Territoire

Among a host of other influences there are strong Balkan flavours on this release from acclaimed Canadian violinist Briga, who brings a range of European heritage influences to bear on her music, along with eclectic strains of contemporary electronica. The album, her fifth, takes an at times challenging approach to the movement from one musical style to another: on ‘Lipa’, featuring Polish vocalist Ewelina Ferenc, there is a suite of short movements, from a birdsong recording through an excursion into folk violin to EDM and beyond. Although well produced, this has the potential to leave one feeling that a series of short tracks have been mixed together, rather than give the sense of complete cohesion that classically characterises a ‘song’.

Briga's various collaborations stand out on the album, particularly the two tracks featuring Tamar Ilana, a Toronto based flamenco musician, and ‘L’Oubli' where she brings in the talents of electro maestro Ali-X. What this album does particularly well is highlight the convoluted beauty of cultural heritage in contemporary Canada, by incorporating much of its variety and giving it space to express itself while refusing easy or binary definitions which would seek to pigeonhole its multiplicitous aspects.