I first became an admirer of Charlotte Gainsbourg [1] as an actress, after her subtly naive performance in the 1996 film adaptation of Jane Eyre [2] (which I love, by the way). But it's no surprise that the actress is now turning to music: She is, after all, the spawn of legendary French singer/eccentric Serge Gainsbourg, with whom she recorded her first album, Charlotte For Ever, at the age of 13.

Now, Gainsbourg the singer is all grown-up, and her first adult solo album, 5:55 [3], was just released in the U.S. this week. The album flicks at French tradition, with pianos and bells that call to mind gray Paris afternoons, while also feeling very modern. I particularly love this ethereal, romantic track "The Songs That We Sing," with its fluttering, insect-like strings. To listen,