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CD Review
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Sound Waves (The Virginian-Pilot), CD Review >>
On the surface, the latest from French-Canadian music revivalists Le Vent Du Nord (The North Wind), has the potential to be a stodgy, dusty musical affair. But "Dans les Airs" is hardly that.
Although the quartet has made it it's mission to seek out rare Quebecois songs musical traditions, their spirited playing, virtuosic abilities, passion and sense of adventure elevate this work out of the snuffy confines of museum musicology.
The ensemble features Oliver Demers, a Cirque du Soleil musician, on violin and percussive tap-dancing; Simon Beaudry on guitar; Nicolas Boulerice on hurdy-gurdy/piano; and Rejean Brunet on acoustic bass/accordion. The four contemporize traditional French Canadian drinking dancing, eating and flirting songs. Tunes written by farmers, villagers, trappers and lumber jacks are fashioned into melodic instrumental and vocal rave-ups set to the rhythms of reels, waltzes and two-steps that sound like a mash up of Cajun, bluegrass, French chanson, le jazz hot, folk-pop and Celtic Brittany styles. Le Vent de Nord blows a breath of fresh musical air into songs as old as their beloved Quebec.
By: Eric Feber 06/27/08 >> go there
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