Manset Essentials

French musician Gérard Manset stands between the mainstream and the underground, making chansons with wide appeal, from tropical vibes (“Marin bar”) to longing ballads (“Revivre”), next to headier art rock. “Animal on est mal” defines the latter, with its hypnotic bass and Manset’s almost blasé croon capturing the late '60s zeitgeist of social unrest at the apex of prog. The two sides coalesce on the chart-topping “Y’a une route”—gentle piano motifs complementing the melody—and the restless state-of-the-world address “On nous ment”, where driving, rhythmic guitar clashes with bursts of brass.