Those who've seen actress
Anna Karina's films with director Jean-Luc Godard may recall that she sang in a couple of them back in the 1960s, and
Une Historie d'Amour does include two Serge Rezvani-penned songs that she originally performed in Pierrot le Fou: "Jamais Je Ne T'Ai Dit Que Je T'Aimerais Toujours" and the bonus track "Ma Ligne de Chance." The rest of this album consists of contemporary songs by Philippe Katerine, including one with lyrics by
Karina ("Petite Lola") and another with lyrics by both
Karina and Katerine ("Qu'est-ce Que Je Peux Faire"). The two of them share vocals on four songs ("Aimons l'Amour," "Qu'est Ce Que Je Peux Faire," and the aforementioned Rezvani numbers), but
Karina is at her best when on her own. She doesn't have the greatest voice in the history of French pop, but her singing sounds appealingly smoky and self-confident. The album's mood ranges from relatively light and breezy ("Aimons l'Amour") to somber and dramatic ("Copenhague"), and the quality is sufficiently consistent to satisfy curious cinephiles and French music fans. You won't get English translations with the scanty liner notes, however, so if you don't speak French you'll have to make up your own subtitles in your head. ~ Todd Kristel