Footsteps in the Snow

In true L'Attirail fashion, Footsteps in the Snow is a journey rooted in travel and storytelling. Here, sounds float in from the Balkans and North African deserts, on reggae rhythms and rock'n'roll, on attitudes from the Wild – and less-wild – West, and in myriad other transglobal flavours. This is a sonic world where tradition meets modernity and borders cease to exist.

Sidi Bémol (aka Hocine Boukella) contributes to this journey with vocals in English, Romanian and Kabyle over a small selection of songs. But the majority of these 14 tracks are spun by an eclectic array of instruments; their bouncing, dreaming, wandering sounds tell tales of bandits and gold rushes, of expeditions and tugboat rescue missions. Composer Xavier Demerliac's cinematic approach deftly conjures up evocative landscapes that leave space for the imagination. Gently evolving, without unnecessary complexity, these pieces are refreshingly lighthearted, and reflect an ensemble that manages to not take itself too seriously. As is the L'Attirail tradition, this album – their 13th – is a journey with no clear destination. While much of our pandemic-hit world remains rooted to the spot, perhaps this carefree escapism is the armchair adventure we need.