Embarcadero Love

Parisian Clara Bellino's first CD, "Embarcadero Love," was released in 2005. "Embarcadero" means "wharf" in Spanish. This title hints at an album with more than a little foreign influence. The first track, "Tout Est Fini" (all is done) is in French, track twelve, "El Crepusculo" (the twilight) is in Spanish, and the fourth song, "What's Too Much" is partly in Spanish.

The rest of the album is just as eclectic as the languages Bellino sings in. It's easy to hear influences both of Bellino's European upbringing and her love of jazz, imparted by her father. Most of the songs are light-hearted, with a sometimes even airy voice singing them.

The standout track is the second, "Swordfishtrombone," a remake of a song from a 1983 Tom Waits album. I also enjoyed track seven, "Game Up Bigger Pickle," which includes lyrics such as, "one foot in the grave and one foot on a banana peel."