Têtu (Borealis Recordings, 2015)
With a fist full of awards that include a couple of Junos or Canada’s version of the Grammys, a pair of Canadian Folk Music Awards, a French Grand Prix du Disque Charles Cros award and a Folk Alliance International Artist of the Year nod, Quebec’s folk group Le Vent du Nord has blazed a path through the folk music scene with their infectiously energetic brand of Quebecois folk. Racking up recordings like Tromper Le Temps, Dans les Airs, La Part Du Feu, Medames Et Messiers! and Les Amants du Saint-Laurent, Le Vend du Nord has set out to dazzle listeners again with the release Tetu, out on the Borealis Recordings label. Also, fans should be sure to check the group’s upcoming tour dates to catch them live.
Rounding out the sound of Le Vent du Nord is Nicolas Boulerice on hurdy-gurdy, piano and vocals; Olivier Demers on fiddle, foot-tapping and vocals; Rejean Brunet on accordion, bass, jaw harp and vocals and Simon Beaudry on bouzouki, guitar and vocals.
The boys of Le Vent du Nord have turned out an outstanding recording with Tetu and special kudos go out to sound, mixing and mastering men Mark Busic, Francois Beausejour and Marc-Olivier Bouchard because the technical quality of the sound on Tetu is excellent. Conjuring up a full-bodied sound, Le Vent du Nord waltzed, two-steps and whirls listeners through a collection of both traditional and newly composed tracks that are sure to please any folk music fan and cause tears to spring into the eye for those with an inner Quebecois lurking about.
Tetu has got the good with songs about a doomed couple, a loup-garou, politics and of course love. Tetu is by turns a love lament, a wild romp and a charismatic instrumental, all deliciously wrapped up in the extraordinary virtuosity of members of Le Vent du Nord. Folk fans will note up front from the sweet strains of opening track “Noce tragique” that this is no ordinary folk recording.
Carefully crafted and expertly woven the music of Tetu comes across as fresh as with the potent “Loup-garou,” or vivacious instrumental “Cardeuse-Riopel,” or the fancy free feel of “Confederation.” Le Vent du Nord makes it all sound easy with track like “Chaise ardente” and the infectiously delightful “D’ouest en est.” “Forillon,” the sweetly worked “Petit reve IX,” the elegantly melancholic “Entre ciel et terre” and the lively “Amant volage” are just as engaging.
Le Vent du Nord puts a quick, bright work shine on Tetu and well worth a deep dive into Quebecois folk.
Buy Têtu
Author: TJ Nelson
TJ Nelson is a regular CD reviewer and editor at World Music Central. She is also a fiction writer. Check out her latest book, Chasing Athena’s Shadow.
Set in Pineboro, North Carolina, Chasing Athena’s Shadow follows the adventures of Grace, an adult literacy teacher, as she seeks to solve a long forgotten family mystery. Her charmingly dysfunctional family is of little help in her quest. Along with her best friends, an attractive Mexican teacher and an amiable gay chef, Grace must find the one fading memory that holds the key to why Grace’s great-grandmother, Athena, shot her husband on the courthouse steps in 1931.
Traversing the line between the Old South and New South, Grace will have to dig into the past to uncover Athena’s true crime.
