20 Printemps

Le Vent Du Nord have been together for 20 years, and this, their 11th album, marks that anniversary. Calling it Printemps (springtime) may be intended as a symbol of the band’s ongoing renewal of its musical vision, but it’s also an apt description of the unstoppable energy of the music on this particular recording.

Whether traditional or original, the music is deftly played with crisp call-and-response vocals and warm-bath harmonies. All are underpinned by a strong shared pulse, in part due to André Brunet’s masterful way with the feet. 20 Printemps is the musical equivalent of a theatre’s ‘there is no bad seat in the house,’ with nary a weak tune in the lot. Still, the five-piece band from Québec (considered by some to be the unofficial cultural ambassadors of French-speaking Canada) notably bring their two decades of ever-deepening musical skills together on the tracks ‘Ma Louise’ and ‘Vos Amitiés La Belle’. For something a little unexpected, try ‘Marianne’, which grows from voice and hurdy-gurdy to a full sound that’s both stately and powerful.