Review by Eugene Chadbourne : This performer should not be confused with Guillaume de Machaut, hyped as the greatest composer of the 14th century. Guillaume Maupin, based out of Brussels, might choose his peer group from amongst the young, primarily acoustic, performers of original songs who in the days when Folk in a Pleasant Mood was released tended to be categorized as alt folk or even anti-folk. Maupin's title is a reference to Sun Ra, a folk hero of the avant garde who may have actually thought he was from outer space, specifically an LP entitled Fate in a Pleasant Mood. It is not the exact music of Sun Ra, which serves as a springboard for Maupin's at times eccentric performances, it's more the idea of a music that is always on the edge of surprise.
Unlike Sun Ra, Maupin sings in at least three languages and deals just as often with the common-day problems of the lovesick and weary as he might be gathering cosmic debris. "Mood Changing" is a really strong example of the former type of song, its mood enhanced by a marvelous violin track that is one of the few instrumental touches Maupin is not responsible for.
He accompanies himself on guitars, both electric and acoustic, as well as the six-string hybrid of banjo and guitar known as a "guit-jo." Stylistically he goes around and around, suggesting thrash on one track only to lightly fingerpick the next. Another piece avoids guitars completely, chuckling in a combination of French dialogue with a ditzy electric keyboard backgrounds. With "It Is Me Babe" this artist gets more smiles and laughs with another simple idea, executed with the precise touches of a slapstick artist. The previous word should not come up without further praising Maupin for his charmingly ticklish drawing and packaging style.