Voisinages
La Compagnie du Nord, 2025
9/10
The Quebec outfit, Le Vent du Nord, bring their infectious energy to these highly diverse tracks that includes dance numbers, ballads, a cappella and instrumental tracks.
“Par-Dessus le Pont” opens with animated call and response vocals and playful foot stomps, as Réjean Brunet’s lively accordion adds much appeal, and “Bienvenue” follows with a colorful instrumental that welcomes whistles and Olivier Demers’ agile violin.
In the middle, “Fleuve” allows for André (Dédé) Gagné’s elegant guitar to mesmerize us, while “Du Nord au Sud” is a dance friendly moment thanks to the meticulous strings and quick percussion.
Further still, “Carillon” is a bit more firm, as Nicolas Boulerice’s expressive pipes suit the thumping, cultured folk-rock, and “Fleur radieuse” exits with the graceful strings, cozy accordion and much melody.
A record that possesses a tremendous amount of joy, Voisinages translates to Neighborhood, and that seems pretty apt since Le Vent du Nord brings us on a journey through Irish and Scottish Celts, American folk, songs from Acadia, and French-speaking Americans via this very sophisticated outing.
Travels well with: Le Vent du Nord- 20 Printemps; Leslie Jordan- The Agonist