Manez Eta Kobreak

Very little information comes with this album – although all the lyrics are translated into English (from Basque) – but a further search tells me Manez is Thierry Biscary, a Basque singer-songwriter and percussionist, and Kobreak are the band who back him on this album. Hence the title of the album (‘Manez With Kobreak’). Opener ‘Zapetagilea’ is a jaunty ramble that finds Manez singing in a clear, high voice while Kobreak's accordion and four brass players swing effortlessly behind him. Throughout, Kobreak also provide backing vocals – choral, harmony and unaccompanied – coming together effortlessly on songs that are very poetic and engaging. Manez and Kobreak sound like a unit who have played together often, the music being both note perfect and joyous. Manez writes melodic songs and he and Kobreak's approach to them is to perform in a relaxed, intimate way – I can imagine some of these songs being sung for children (and the kids loving them). Certain listeners may then find a handful of the songs somewhat cloying – there is quite a lot of a capella singing, and a tendency towards the theatrical, even Felliniesque – but Manez Eta Kobreak is mostly delicious.