Sebastien Tellier – Confection

France’s Sebastien Tellier has always been a difficult figure to pin down. Having worked with Daft Punk, Mr Oizo and the legendary Nigerian drummer Tony Allen (who reappears here), Tellier is a respected figure in the French electronica scene; on the other hand, he’s a one-time Eurovision contestant whose compositions can seem kitsch and superficial.

Confection is a series of mainly instrumental pieces that, for many, will confirm that perception. The lush, glossy strings and cheesy synth lines on pieces like Adieu Mes Amours, for example, wouldn’t sound out of place on a Ferrero Rocher advert (appropriately enough, given the LP title).

Nonetheless, there’s an atmospheric allure to Tellier’s compositions that will work a strange magic on those willing to go along for the ride. There’s no profundity of emotion here, but there is a Badalamenti-esque, cinematic oddness to Confection which, despite surface appearances, gives it an endearing, melancholy charm. [Sam Wiseman]