Omnibus

All aboard the Omnibus express! Brussels-based musician Geneviève Laloy whisks us along on a sensational journey with her fifth album, Omnibus; accompanied by musicians Vincent Hargot, Marie-Sophie Talbot and Jaques Verhaegen, they merge folk timbres stretching right across Europe and into the Middle East.

As with most of Laloy's projects, Omnibus was conceived as a show rather than a stand-alone album, intended for children aged five to ten. Composed in French, the concept running through the record is that of a train journey, the sonorities changing as swiftly as the imagined landscapes, from cedar forests to railways stations, from Middle-Eastern flute to blues harmonica. The bookend tracks are particular highlights; mounting the excitement right from the get-go, the journey sets off from a distinctly Celtic environment with ‘Au Petit Trot’, pulling into Balkan territory with the final track, ‘En Scène’, an ode to train drivers featuring spectacular klezmer-inspired clarinet.

The various folk-inspired styles are interspersed with surprises: ‘Côte à Côte’ delves into social commentary, while ‘Je Préfère le Train’ brings to mind Disney's vintage Mickey Mouse whistling intro. Throughout, it's punctuated with reminders of how many more stops to go before we arrive at our destination.

The music manages to be complex while still being easy-listening. The subjects are vast, the soundscapes captivating, and while the show might be intended for children, everyone has something to gain listening to this musical voyage. Omnibus is a creative masterpiece.