Camille

Cutting her teeth with unique Parisian band Nouvelle Vague (whose last album featured bossa nova covers of '80s songs by the likes of Joy Division), Camille's second solo outing has already won accolades on her home continent. A predominantly a cappella record, occasionally backed by light yet effective instrumentation, Le Fil plays like a diary of inner terrain: secrets, emotions, victories, defeat. It is a passionate attempt at showing the kind of integrity the voice (and many voices) can accomplish. The tasteful arrangements on the quiet "Pour Que l'Amour Me Quitte" and "Vertige" are reflective and soft. Yet when Camille puts it into second gear, as on the Rahzel-inspired "Ta Douleur," the groove is unavoidable. There's a running hum throughout all the tracks that makes itself heard in the quiet moments -- turns out it's a loop of Camille's voice, and the record closes with nearly 39 minutes of this buzz. Given the quality of the entire album, it's not the only thing buzzing.