Purchased as a gift The person I gave it to says he likes the music and thanked me for the introduction to a new band.
Almost as good as seeing them live Every time I listened to this album I remember seeing Le Vent du Nord live.
I discovered them at the Sebastopol Celtic Festival. The positive energy level in the room was amazing! I just wish I could have been there the day before when they (along with Baka Beyond) gave a concert for 500 local elementary school kids. Reports are that the kids went totally nuts: jumping up and down, twirling around, and dancing in the aisles.
A vibrant expression of the full range of the human spirit Dans Les Airs is the latest music CD by Le Vent du Nord, a quartet of young singers and instrumentalists. Blending old songs learned from the people of French Canada (including a school janitor on Cape Breton) with their own reals and tunes drawing upon the music of Ireland, Scotland, medieval France, and their own creativity, Le Vent du Nord is a vibrant expression of the full range of the human spirit, from exuberant fun to bittersweet reflections. Of especial interest is Le Vent du Nord's inclusion of the traditional French hurdy-gurdy, a stringed instrument with a rotating wheel that acts a constant bow, known for being notoriously difficult to properly tune. Highly recommended. The tracks are Rosette (3:55); La piastre des Etats (4:10); La veillee chez Poirier (2:57); La traversee (4:31); Tour a bois (3:01); Le vieux cheval (3:04); Petit reve III (2:48); Les larmes aux yeux (4:28); La beaute du mariage (4:24); Du Labrador a Montmagny (3:53); Le berger (3:17); L'heure bleue (4:02); and La fille et les dragons (5:05).
Sweet, Fine, and Mellow: Drink It In! ****1/2: Even though this, the band's third recording, does not quite measure up to their previous effort, mainly because of the nature of the songs, it is still wonderful. The pieces are sung as call and response in harmony, with delightful arrangements and musicianship. The traditional Celtic Acadian reels and dances, performed chiefly on accordian, fiddle, guitar, piano, and that peculiar instrument, the hurdy-gurdy, make for happy, foot-tapping listening. Hard work and archival study was put in to develop their special sound. This is top level group that deserves better recognition south of the Canadian border.
la joie de vie this third album from le vent du nord is as lovely, rousing, and addictive as their last two. anyone who has seen them play live this past year will hear some familiar tunes and also be happy to finally hear rejean's contribution in the studio.
the songs complement as well as add a fresh sound to their current body of work. olivier's fiddle playing rises to the fore as it is always beautiful, sometimes heart breakingly so. nicolas' and simon's voices are as wonderful as ever and full of emotion, and you can sense rejean's infectious smile in his playing. all four of them are incredibly talented musicians and it is a joy to listen to each in turn and together.
if you are new to traditional quebecois music, the music of le vent du nord is a perfect place to start and essential to any music library.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
