The Whole Music Experience

I'm in a winter music mood so for the final video round-up, I'm featuring traditional musical acts from Quebec.  This will keep you warm and toasty.  Don't pour too much maple syrup on this music. 1. Le Vent du Nord, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuMwisT_5PU 2. Matapat, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-ovBXgaBYI  (an ad for an album) 3. Genticorum, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFDh68Rjkz4 4.  La Volee d' Castors (Flying Beavers), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y14WcUksncA 5. Les Tireux d' Roches, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ozi73nb_0U If you type in "Traditional Quebecois Music" in the YouTube search, many videos will come up, from the old music to the more contemporary sound.

Sagapool Coop Faux Monnayeurs Independent Release/Canada Similar to the French music collective Lo’Jo, Quebec’s Sagapool collectively represents a multicultural stew on its self-titled album.   However, as mentioned in the press notes, Sagapool performs meditative music.   Not to confuse meditative with new age, this sextet lead by clarinetist Guillaume Bourque musically ponders the Great White North, and oddly sounds like Finish or Norwegian folk music.   Sure, the musicians toss the words Klezmer and Balkan around in the band’s description, and we do hear an Eastern European gypsy tinge, especially on an upbeat song Marcel , which sounds like the circus rolled into town. However, I can draw comparisons between this Quebecois band and European musical acts, but by the end of the day, the best descriptor is original.   Now, I’ve never traveled to Quebec so I am left with a mystical description of the place--some far off land, bordering the US and ...

Le Vent du Nord Dans les airs Borealis Records The traditional Quebecois group, Le Vent du Nord's third album, Dans les airs also features the group's third incarnation. The departure of Benoit Bourque feels missed here. But his replacement, Rejean Brunet, formerly of the Flying Beavers group, provides a new dimension. Besides, bringing his accordion on board, he also contributed acoustic bass and piano to this recording. Nicolas Boulerice took on a stronger role on this third time out, by contributing vocal duties on many of the tracks. But violinist Olivier Demers, the other remaining founding member along with Nicolas, handled most of the songwriting duties. Despite a revolving door of band members since the debut recording, La Vent du Nord's fare seem tighter than ever and the playing more mature. The traditional fare of songs about drinking, falling in love with sweethearts or losing at the game of love, fills up most of this disc. We are also informed abou...