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Austin Chronicle - by Margaret Moser     
February 21, 2003
Christine Albert / Texafrance-Encore!   

"When  South by Southwest was held at the Hyatt, Christine Albert once landed a showcase in the hotel's atrium bar, an acoustically wretched space cavernously rising 17 floors to the top of the building. Yet hearing Albert singing "La Vie en Rose" from the 15th floor was as memorable as any conference moment this writer recalls. Her voice floated, the song's lyrical beauty free and dancing in the ether. The Edith Piaf tune was from Albert's 1992 TexaFrance album, a project loved enough that she's returned for an encore, literally.

Texafrance-Encore! reprises Albert's affection for her French-Swiss roots, this time with partner Chris Gage producing and playing with an eclectic collection of musicians so well suited they should play together all the time. A dozen tracks continue the TF legacy, Encore being an organically pleasing mix of cabaret-style tunes from the traditional ("Plaisir D'amour," "J'attendrai") to contemporary (Rickie Lee Jones' funky "Jolie Jolie," Daniel Lanois' "Under a Stormy Sky"). Albert's at her best with popular tunes like the familiar "Sous le Ciel de Paris/Under Paris Skies," as her pretty voice lilts between French and English. Her Piaf tributes are the most heartfelt: "La Vieux Piano," "C'est Peut-Etre Ca," and the saucy "La Foule," a duet with Albert and Gage doing what they do second best.

It's no coincidence this album came out around Valentine's Day, because its beauty is not just in the music, but in its sheer romantic atmosphere, the kind you need no partner to enjoy."

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New Texas Magazine - by Lynne Thompson 
February 2003   
Christine Albert / Texafrance-Encore!

"Christine Albert, local vocalist and guitar-playing legend, has released TexaFrance-Encore! (MoonHouse Records) – a collection of romantic French songs and ballads delivered in Christine’s emotive and charming voice. Produced by Chris Gage, Albert’s partner on and off stage, TexaFrance-Encore! shows off Christine’s angelic voice and Chris’s multi-instrumental and vocal talent. Together, their musical passion and performance creates an undeniable appeal.

TexaFrance-Encore! travels the entire range of both artist’s talents – from Christine’s mastery of the French torch songs from her musical heritage, to the country, blues, folk, and rock that both Christine and Chris cut their teeth on – this release proves again they are an unstoppable musical force. The blending of Albert’s and Gage’s voices is so smooth and harmonious that it sometimes sounds as if there is another voice with them.  Musical magic happens as Christine switches from French to English in these irresistible songs, and Chris switches effortlessly between piano, guitar and accordion as he sings with her.

Fans will recognize La Mer / Beyond the Sea as the familiar French tune celebrating the hopeful realization of love sailing into the arms of the expectant singer. A crisp clarinet, played by Mike Austin, lends a lot of European flair to the piano played by Chris Gage, and the guitar played by Olivier Giraud.

Paul Glasse’s mandolin answers Christine’s playful voice in Coucou. Under a Stormy Sky has a definite country-western sound made all the more appealing when accompanied by Eamon McLoughlin’s violin and Chris Gage’s guitar.

A sequel to Albert’s 1992 release, TexaFrance, TexaFrance-Encore! is a musical and romantic tribute to Christine Albert’s and Chris Gage’s sizeable and truly enjoyable talent."

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Dirty Linen - by Kerry Dexter
August/September 2003 #107
Christine Albert / Texafrance-Encore!

"Christine Albert does a fine job of blending her southwestern singer/songwriter interests with her family’s native roots in France and Switzerland on her second recording exploring these connections (the first one, Texafrance, was released in 1992). She sings in an expressive soprano with just enough twang to make the Cajun/Texas flavor evident and just enough crispness to inhabit effectively the more Parisian of the tunes she chooses. It’s a mixed bag of music, from the familiar "Mademoiselle de Paris" and jazz master Stephane Grapelli’s lively "CouCou" to the 18th-century ballad-turned-folk-song "Plasir d’Amour." Each of the dozen cuts is worth listening to, but her most memorable choices are two more contemporary tunes, Rickie Lee Jones’ light-as-air "Jolie Jolie" and Daniel Lanois’ bayou-tinged "Under a Cloudy Sky." The project was produced by Albert’s oft times duet partner Chris Gage, who adds back vocal, keyboards, guitar and accordion to many of the tracks. Austin fiddler Eamon McLoughlin’s touch of spice is especially welcome on "Under a Cloudy Sky," while Paul Glasse’s mandolin illuminates the "CouCou" and "J’Attendrai." - Kerry Dexter

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Sing Out! - by VKH
Fall 2003 - Vol. 47 #3    
Christine Albert / Texafrance-Encore!

"Christine Albert is an Austin, Texas mainstay, having started the Austin Songwriters Group, participated in several community organizations, and acted as a mentor to Austin newbies. She and partner Chris Gage have some eight albums still available, including the 1992 French/English Texafrance. Her mother spoke French at home and Christine picked it up and carried it to her regular performances.

Texafrance-Encore! includes many well-known songs as well as some not so well known. Each contains French and English verses. Christine’s beautiful voice carries these songs as few American singers could although she and Gage have chosen to jazz up the production with piano, mandolin, guitar, bass, percussion and accordion. The net result is a 1940s bistro feel that takes some getting used to. The sequencing also is in someway jarring, with jazzy "Coucou" following the more sedate "La Mer" and preceding "Mademoiselle de Paris." This roller coaster approach to song presentation probably can’t be helped given the selection of songs for the album although it sometimes makes for disjointed listening.

These quibbles aside, each song is a gem. Christine’s enunciation is impeccable, enabling the listener to translate the French verses and follow the lyrics in the well-designed graphic booklet. Moreover, there are enough familiar songs that listeners can maintain interest even if their French is less than minimal. Overall, this is an interesting album that Christine Albert fans are going to like very much. Edith Piaf would like it, too."

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"Never committing fully to either country or cabaret, Albert has deftly created a whole new musical category of her own."  Music City Texas

This CD is currently out of print. 

TEXAFRANCE

Austin Chronicle - by Margaret Moser   
March 1992
Christine Albert / Texafrance

"The concept of melding the airy passion of Edith Piaf with the Texas honky-tonk tradition sounds like Monty Python source material, but Albert’s achy, crystal voice sounds so good in both languages that this project doesn’t just float – it flies in spots.  The requisite "La Vie En Rose" is here, but surprisingly, the standout track is a lively run at Bob Seger's "Accompany Me" - a reminder that even a beefhead like Seger (once a genyoowine Michigan rock hero) can still pen a decent tune, especially when Anna McGarrigle handles the translation.  Accompanied by an all-star Austin cast."

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Music City Texas - by John Conquest
January 1992
Christine Albert / Texafrance

"Raised in a French-speaking household, Albert majored in music and languages and wound up singing country music in Texas, so this bilingual album (all the songs have French and English lyrics) pulls together some major strands in her life and does it all with class and style.  The musicianship, as with any Albert project, is impeccable: The trademark lead mandolin of Paul Glasse, Spencer Starnes on basses, Danny Levin - keyboards, violin and cello, Marty Muse - pedal steel, Ponty Bone - accordion, James Fenner - percussion, Steve Meador - drums and Mitch Watkins - guitars.  A wealth of talent that Watkins, who also produces, uses sparingly behind two Albert originals, La Lumiere De L'amour (outstanding) and Je Reve De Toi, four Anglo-French songs, by Jane Gillman, Gershwin, David Ball and Bob Seger, and five Franco-English...Je T'appartiens (Let It Be Me), Amor Tambien (wonderful arrangment) and the Edith Piaf classics La Vie En Rose, Hymne A L'Amour and Je Ne Regrette Rien, though Albert's crystalline soprano is a far cry from Piaf's caporal and cognac rasp.  Never committing fully to either country or cabaret, Albert has deftly created a whole new musical category of her own."

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Austin American-Statesman - by John T. Davis
January 1992
Christine Albert / Texafrance

"Well, smoke my Gitanes.  Somebody has finally rescued French from the hands of poetry majors and snooty waiters, and put it where it belongs - to music.  Albert, a longtime Austin resident, is of French-Swiss descent, and has long since expressed a desire to combine her Franco-Lone Star roots and influences on record.  Texafrance is the result.

In this, her second album, Albert has not only combined languages, she has blended eras.  Thus, Edith Piaf hoists a Pernod with Bob Seger, and the Gershwin brothers step aside for Nashville songwriter David Ball.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. 

When it does (which is mostly), Albert's lilting, slightly dry voice projects a wonderful intimacy.  By understating the arrangements and transposing between French and English, she causes the Billie Holiday standard "The Man I Love", the Cajunesque "No One Two Steps Like You", her own "I Dream of You", and even the timeworn Piaf anthem "La Vie En Rose" to undergo a subtle alchemy.

Occasionally though, as in Seger's "You'll Accompany Me" and Ball's "What Have You Done With My Love", the bilingual exercise reverts to mere gimmickry.

It remains to be seen if this album is a temporary detour, or an entirely new direction on Albert's part.  In the meantime, Texafrance remains, by and large, intriguing and evocative."

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