Un Canadien Errant

This is a three-way collaboration between Québécois fiddle and piano playing singer Sophie Lavoie, and uilleann piper and banjo player Fiachra O'Regan from Connemara, on the west coast of Ireland – the artists also trading as Sophie & Fiachra – with guitarist André Marchand, one of the founding members of La Bottine Souriante and a leading figure in Québec's trad scene. Fásta appear to have undergone a name change to The Sophie & Fiachra Trio since the completion of this album. But try not let that confuse you too much – this is pretty splendid stuff by any name and an impressive step on from their 2014 Rewind collection, even though poor old O'Regan once again displays more in the way of spirit than vocal chops for the one track on which he sings. His instrumental expertise makes up for that, however, and for the most part it's Lavoie's sparkling vocals we hear. It's a broad but deftly chosen collection of traditional Irish and Québécois material alongside original compositions. Lavoie's vocal performance is especially impressive on the title-track, originally penned after the Canadian rebellion of 1837-38, but searingly evocative of contemporary experiences suffered by refugees and migrants.