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Dans les Airs Financial Times – CD review - World – april 5, 2008 A hurdy-gurdy buzzes throughout, while the accordion skips and slides. Feet clomp like the old nag of "Le Vieux Cheval", or patter through the lighter songs of penniless lovers and drunken husbands. This is in origin dance music, but Le Vent Du Nord privilege verbal dexterity over instrumental pyrotechnics. David Honigmann Boston Herald - April 4, 2008 (USA Le Vent has enough virtuosity and spirit to make its four musicians sound like 40 at times, and it tackles Scot, Irish or French material with equal authority. With its offhandedly great musicianship (and where else can you hear a hurdy-gurdy these days?), it’s a blast to hear this wind blow. Kevin R. Convey Boston Globe – April 2008 (USA) When it comes to rhythm, Le Vent du Nord is loaded, as the crisp pulse of these nearly forgotten songs for dancing, drinking, and flirting shows. And there's not a drum nor beatbox within earshot. Tristam Lozaw Irish Music Magazine - April 2008 (IR) Dans les airs is their third album, and will delight existing fans and newbies alike. Pulsing box and demonic fiddle, kicking aces with foot percussion, and close-harmony vocals - all the ingredients of the classic Quebec musical stew, and there’s plenty of meat in this one. Alex Monaghan Penguin Eggs - April 2008 (Canada) Dans les Airs reaffirms the group’s position as one of the most enjoyable bands on the North-American traditional folk music scene - Richard Thornley The Coastal Journal – March 27, 2008 (Bath, Maine, USA) For those of us, lucky enough to have seen Le Vent du Nord, a Quebecois/ Acadian folk band with their charming mix of instrumentation, their arresting stage presence and just plain good clean fun is well known. For those who have never seen them, be absolutely sure to get tickets for their next concert. Gina Hamilton Los Angeles Times – March 26, 2008 (CA, USA) At first, Le Vent du Nord sounds very much like a traditional Celtic group, but then the voices come in and we are in another world. For one thing, the singing is mostly in four-part harmony, and for another it is in French. Elijah Wald Dirty Linen – winter 2008 (USA) They are well grounded by heritage and experience in the music of French Canada and ready to make that music in a way that speak to modern day. (…) All in all, it’s a wild ride through the energy of French-Canadian music, with just enough of the quieter side of things to catch your breath and prepare you for the next round of flying fiddle notes, hurdy-gurdy circles, and stories in song. Kerry Dexter Cd hotlist - baker & taylor - Feb 2008 (USA) This Quebecois quartet continues to make some of the most infectiously beautiful recordings on the market - the slightly crooked rhythms, the call-and-response vocals, the heartbreakingly beautiful melodies will all be familiar to fans of this particular tradition, but there are Breton influences in there as well, and when they break into sudden tight vocal harmony the effect is both unusual and thrilling. If you have patrons who still mourn the demise of Malicorne and the evolution of La Bottine Souriante into a horn-driven R&B band, then you'll want to snap up this disc without delay. (RA) Sound Base Online Magazine - February 2008 (GERMANY) (…) that convinced me very much…wonderful! - Stefan Kazich VOIR Montréal - December 13, 2007 (Québec) The group’s third album confirms their spot in the leading pack of the numerous folklore diggers and other craftsmen of our local traditional folk music scene. The recording’s lush production highlights the finesse of the arrangements and vocal harmonies, among which the accordion of newcomer Réjean Brunet easily finds a place of its own. Réjean Beaucage LE DEVOIR - Friday, October 5, 2007 (Québec) (…) detailed production, beautiful vocal harmonies, rich arrangements, a perfect balance between reels and folk-tinged singalongs, a few beat-driven passages, the same sweet melancholia, a certain lightness, and most of all the dialogues between violin and hurdy-gurdy that have become Le Vent du Nord’s trademark. The hurdy-gurdy seems less flashy than usual, but it benefits a newfound balance brought in by new member Réjean Brunet, a bassist, accordion player and pianist with an inviting swing and a discreet touch. And he seems to have established an instant rapport with the other musicians. Fiddler Olivier Demers is rootier than ever. Hurdy-gurdist Nicolas Boulerice dives deeper into the textural side of his instrument, and singer/guitarist Simon Beaudry sings more openly with his pure voice. In short, this is a splendid album. What is Quebec waiting for to rightfully acknowledge Le Vent du Nord? Yves Bernard RADIO-CANADA FRENCH RADIO C'est bien meilleur le matin - October 4, 2007 (Québec) (...) a superb third album. You can hear the hair of the hurdy-gurdy, the hair of the violin, this music has guts. (...) These guys have fantastic voices and their vocal arrangements are consistently rich, rich, rich. Catherine Perrin Les Amants du St-Laurent and Maudite Moisson! fROOTS, March 2006"A great variety in what they offer, fine singing and playing, interesting arrangements plus a feeling that the band are realy enjoying themselves, all help to make this a really uplifting album to listen to." Vic Smith Portland Press Herald, Portland ME, January 21st 2006 "There is a strong feeling of cultural continuity to the performances, even at their most lively. One can easily imagine a French drinking party of the 15th century belting out the same refrains. Whatever its origin, nobody should be allowed to have so much fun without a license." Christopher Hyde Dirty Linen, October-November 2005 "In about two and a half years, this band has risen to the very top of its field." Steve Winick Penguin Eggs, spring 2005 "This is about as near perfect a recording in the Québec tradition that I've heard since André Marchand's The orange tree. Absolutely essential." Richard Thornley Folk Roots, March 2004 "One of the best album in a long time. The quartet play with great verve and tightness." Vic Smith Folk World, September 2004 "Le Vent du Nord were without doubt one of the highlights of this year’s Tonder Festival in Denmark and their live shows are unforgettable." Michael Moll Rambles, 25 September 2004 "There’s a great deal to like here, and I don’t hesitate to recommend Le Vent du Nord to anyone who loves this style of music." David Cox FROOTS, June 2004 "Le Vent du Nord epitomises the infectious verve and bonhomie of the current roots music revival in Quebec." Tony Montague Sing Out!, Spring 2004 "This rocks !" Mary Desrosiers The Herald-Times, Bloomington, IN, March 3, 2004 "Le Vent du Nord is know to blow audiences away as it embodies the joy of Quebecois music." Andrew Graham Sing Out !, Winter 2004 "Le Vent du Nord’s debut album is one of the most impressive first releases you’re likely to hear." Rob Weir Penguin Eggs, Summer 2003 "The playing is terrific, the vocals strong and rich. (...) For the lovers of Quebecois music, Le Vent du Nord’s album is a must." Les Siemieniuk The Standard Times, New-Bedford MA, March 6, 2003 "Le Vent du Nord are the most exciting group I have seen in a long time." Helene Korolenko, presenter, quoted by Joanna McQuillan, |
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