The 8th album from French pop geniuses Tahiti 80. Perfection in the classic art of pop song-making is sought by millions and found by a precious few. The gentlemen of Tahiti 80 elevate craft to art with formidable ease. They have taken an interval of 1300 days give or take to hone and create an album that has so many truly great songs that it plays like a compilation of hits more than an album. Hence the title of this long player: The Sunshine Beat, Vol. 1. Here is what lead singer Xavier Boyer has to say about this new set of instant classics: “It’s a contraction of several musical genres: Sunshine pop and the beat - as in Merseybeat or Bigbeat. In short, the T80 DNA.” Lead single ‘Let Me Be Your Story’ sets the tone: sizzling, exotic, with a certain je ne sais quoi. It joins a fine lineage of great summer anthems from the Beach Boys to the Boo Radleys via Big Star. It is testament to the fact there’s such a thing as pop alchemy. But what sounds free and easy can take time to create. “I guess that’s one of our daily fights when we’re in the studio,” says Boyer. “It’s what we like in pop, bands like the Boo Radleys, XTC or 10CC, or even KC and the Sunshine Band - they all make clever pop with lots of different chord changes and parts. I guess on ‘Let Me Be Your Story’ we have tons of that but you need to find a balance with all these fancy chords and hooks. We’re like scientists trying to blend all the different elements.” From that starting point so much joy awaits. “Natural Reaction” offers a bit of Princely slink in a very French sort of way. “Sound Museum” is all about the yé-yé of Os Mutantes refracted through the pop psych TV pleasures of The Monkees. There is Kraut Rock and Doo Wop rubbing shoulder on “Strung”, and the pure Brill Building ethos of Carol King on the album’s yearning heart “Hurts.” The North American CD has 11 songs including bonus track "Jewel" not available elsewhere.