St Germain Tourist

In making its digital debut in June 2012, this seminal jazztronica album from 2000 received both sharp remastering and iTunes LP treatment. Producer/composer Ludovic Navarre was on the vanguard of the French electronic music scene that begat Daft Punk, Air and Dimitri from Paris before releasing his sophomore album under the St. Germain moniker. Tourist continues to sound fresh, starting with the Marlena Shaw-sampling opening track, “Rose rouge”, and concluding with the vibraphone-driven funk-fueled closer “What You Think About”. Navarre masterfully balances programmed sounds with live performances by the likes of Jamaican guitar master Ernest Ranglin on “Montego Bay Spleen”. Deluxe content includes a bonus live track; the animated video for the infectious single “So Flute” and the semi-animated visual treatment for “Sure Thing” (memorable for its inventive John Lee Hooker/Miles Davis sample); photos, recording credits and a biographical essay.