After spending a couple of years touring in support of their
von Trapp
collaboration
Dream a Little Dream
,
Pink Martini
cast their sights and sounds farther with
Je Dis Oui!
This is one of the little orchestra's most globetrotting collections, whether they're combining Japanese instrumentation with Portuguese songcraft on "Solidao" or singing in any of the other seven languages represented here, including a foray into Xhosa with a cheery rendition of
Miriam Makeba
's "Pata Pata." Where they flirted with kitsch on
, this time
draw inspiration from cinematic glamour. Three of
's songs were written for the 2016 film Souvenir, which stars
Isabelle Huppert
as a forgotten Eurovision contestant, and they anchor the album. "Joli Garcon" kicks things off with vibrantly optimistic French pop; "Souvenir"'s brass and swirling harp lend a sultry touch; and "Fini la Musique" sends the album into its home stretch with
Edith Piaf
-worthy drama. As always, in
's world, traditional doesn't mean predictable. The band excels at bringing fresh perspectives to old favorites on
with a little help from their friends:
Rufus Wainwright
's "Blue Moon" is one of the most serene tracks here, while
Kathleen Saadat
's growling alto gives "Love for Sale" an extra urgency. The group also takes time to reflect on its own traditions, with longtime collaborator and NPR journalist
Ari Shapiro
taking the lead on "Finnisma Di," an Arabic version of "La Soledad" from their 1997 debut,
Sympathique
. Nearly 20 years later,
is one of
's most cohesive and welcoming expressions of their globally minded pop. ~ Heather Phares