Variations fantômes

There was much talk at its release, and rightly so, of how the music on this disc integrates, and in a totally transparent way, a host of elements gleaned from various classical composers, from Couperin to Satie, via Strauss and Schubert. Less was said, though, about the simplicity and delicacy of Philippe B’s imagery and how it hits the mark, and even less about the simple, modest tone with which he sings it, without ever making a splash — whereas that is perhaps what makes his charm so special.