By James Laudano

It seems that Charlotte Gainsbourg is taking a break from traumatizing me to launch a tour promoting her latest album, IRM. When last I had any exposure to Gainsbourg, she was sexually torturing Willem Dafoe and severing her own clitoris in the Lars von Trier film, Antichrist. Thankfully, though, IRM is quickly replacing my Antichrist-influenced mental image of Gainsbourg with a much more pleasant one.

Gainsbourg, star of such films as The Science of Sleep, 21 Grams and I’m Not There, delivers a diverse-sounding and energetic work with IRM. Produced by acclaimed musician Beck (who also provides guitar and vocal work on a few tracks), the album ranges from lilting, beautiful ballads to industrial, driving, blues-flavored tracks. The tracks “Trick Pony” and “Greenwich Mean Time” push you to get up and dance while “Me and Jane Doe” and “Time of the Assassins” put you in the mindset of a relaxed patron of a Parisian street café.

Given more space, I would elaborate more, but for now, I’ll leave you with this: the album is most definitely worth a listen. Also, thank god Beck didn’t get the Willem Dafoe treatment and wind up with a smashed crotch and a wooden bolt drilled through his leg. Ouch, Green Goblin, ouch.