Loane

This disarming debut showcases a young French singer-songwriter already at the top of her game. Loane's artistic contradictions make her stand out. Her songs meld sharp lyrics with catchy, bittersweet melodies; her self-composed material sounds as if it's always been around. Likewise, her voice can be a husky whisper, but she has a strong set of pipes and a broad dynamic range. The backings are creative and sound organic, as if she recorded this live in a dream rather than had it multitracked in a recording studio. Top marks go to the title track, "Danser," "Comme Si Quelqu'un" and "Aime."