Nicolas Michaux – Vitalisme (Top Albums 2024)

Few albums in recent years have touched me as much as Nicolas Michaux’s Vitalisme. Michaux hails from my little Belgian town, Liège. He started out in a pop-rock band called Été 67, before gradually breaking away into a solo career. While he was going through a painful break-up during the writing of Vitalisme, he managed to bring out of his creative process a dozen luminous songs about life’s little joys. A pure soul, the likes of which are in short supply in this world. The Belgian musician navigates with disconcerting ease through delicate, elegant French chanson, tinged with indie pop, folk and blues influences.

The arrangements are sober and effective, and the lyrics, sung in either French or English, go straight to the heart. The great Étienne Daho praised Michaux’s songwriting talent, citing in particular his song Chaleur humaine, a few months ago on France Inter. A perfect record to combat the dreary winter air, best listened to with a good Trappist beer by your side, to live the Belgian experience not just half-heartedly.