Geneviève Racette
Better late than never (a trip to Japan kind of got in the way), but here's another case of six degrees of separation... Back in March, I blogged about Laura Babin, a versatile and talented artist from Québec who'd just released an incredibly polished debut EP, and it now turns out that the subject of this post has previously shared a stage with Laura...
Geneviève Racette is another young and - on the basis of this, her debut EP - an extremely talented Montréal-based singer-songwriter.
Geneviève first came to my attention via the pages (once again) of the treasure trove that is Bandcamp where she had uploaded a teaser in the shape (and sound) of "Bricolage," and I was so impressed that not only did I contact the artist herself but also wrote about the song via the pages of arguable the number one French music blog Filles Sourires.
Like a number of up and coming French-Canadian artists, Geneviève not only studied music (she's a graduate of L’école Nationale de la chanson de Granby), but has also performed at one of the myriad of singing contests that seem to nurture talent north of the 49th, reaching the finals of last year's L'Etoile Montant (the winner appears at the prestigious FrancoFolies de Montréal festival). And adding another feather to her bow, Geneviève is also a member of the all-girl Montréal-based a cappella quartet Les Gourmandes.
Given that this EP was financed through crowd-funding, "Bricolage" might be considered an apt title. However, there is nothing DIY about this sympathetically produced, folk-tinged bitter-sweet love song that's all about trying to put a broken heart, cut into little pieces (as if with a pair of scissors), back together again... There's a gorgeous melodic guitar intro before Geneviève silky-smooth vocals - take centre-stage. The song's arrangement ensures that the melody complements rather than over-powers the voice, and as befits someone who is a member of an a capella quartet, the soaring harmonies - which remind me at times of my favourite siblings, Melanie and Stéphanie Boulay - are absolutely note-perfect.
The songs showcased here have a semi-autobiographical feel (in interviews, Geneviève admits as much), while the style is described as "comfy folk-pop;" which is a very understated and self-effacing description of some of the most melodic contemporary country-folk that I've had the pleasure of discovering.
Primarily just accompanied by acoustic guitar and the lightest of percussion - the style really is clean and minimalist - Geneviève's voice is the focus here. Indeed, the artist's SoundCloud page truly encapsulates this - the acoustic version of "Bricolage" neatly distills the essence of this simplistic approach...
Geneviève Racette is another young and - on the basis of this, her debut EP - an extremely talented Montréal-based singer-songwriter.
Geneviève first came to my attention via the pages (once again) of the treasure trove that is Bandcamp where she had uploaded a teaser in the shape (and sound) of "Bricolage," and I was so impressed that not only did I contact the artist herself but also wrote about the song via the pages of arguable the number one French music blog Filles Sourires.
Like a number of up and coming French-Canadian artists, Geneviève not only studied music (she's a graduate of L’école Nationale de la chanson de Granby), but has also performed at one of the myriad of singing contests that seem to nurture talent north of the 49th, reaching the finals of last year's L'Etoile Montant (the winner appears at the prestigious FrancoFolies de Montréal festival). And adding another feather to her bow, Geneviève is also a member of the all-girl Montréal-based a cappella quartet Les Gourmandes.
Given that this EP was financed through crowd-funding, "Bricolage" might be considered an apt title. However, there is nothing DIY about this sympathetically produced, folk-tinged bitter-sweet love song that's all about trying to put a broken heart, cut into little pieces (as if with a pair of scissors), back together again... There's a gorgeous melodic guitar intro before Geneviève silky-smooth vocals - take centre-stage. The song's arrangement ensures that the melody complements rather than over-powers the voice, and as befits someone who is a member of an a capella quartet, the soaring harmonies - which remind me at times of my favourite siblings, Melanie and Stéphanie Boulay - are absolutely note-perfect.
The songs showcased here have a semi-autobiographical feel (in interviews, Geneviève admits as much), while the style is described as "comfy folk-pop;" which is a very understated and self-effacing description of some of the most melodic contemporary country-folk that I've had the pleasure of discovering.
Primarily just accompanied by acoustic guitar and the lightest of percussion - the style really is clean and minimalist - Geneviève's voice is the focus here. Indeed, the artist's SoundCloud page truly encapsulates this - the acoustic version of "Bricolage" neatly distills the essence of this simplistic approach...
On the EP's version there's the subtle addition of electric guitar and pedals that indeed carefully permeates throughout this mini-album, and which evokes the glimpses of the "Americana" that is so evident on Laurence Hélie's "À présent le passé" that was released to critical acclaim last year.
But ultimately soft, lilting folk-pop is the order of the day here. "A cause de toi" is the kind of effortless floating ballad that Chantal Archambault has almost trademarked. There is something quite hypnotic in the way that the vocals seem to almost float above the soft haunting melody. The song is gently meandering at it's own pace until the chorus soars and the bridge kicks-in - a delicious cacophony of reverbed country guitar - before Geneviève drops the tone and pace for the closing bars. The whole song is quite elegantly crafted.
"Le Manteau" is another relaxing folk-song. Again simple accompaniment that acts to highlight - and it has to be said - stunningly sweet, dulcet vocals of frightening clarity... And the voice is again to the fore on the closing track of this all to short collection. The EP closes with "Multicolore," a wistful tale about being in a relationship with the almost-perfect partner and which offers the most ridiculous of catchy choruses.
If you have a penchant for gentle - but never syrupy - pop with a distinctive but never over-powering country-folk tinge; all of which are married to the most hypnotic - and yes, relaxing - of vocals, then you really need to check out this EP. It truthfully doesn't matter whether you can understand French or not.
But ultimately soft, lilting folk-pop is the order of the day here. "A cause de toi" is the kind of effortless floating ballad that Chantal Archambault has almost trademarked. There is something quite hypnotic in the way that the vocals seem to almost float above the soft haunting melody. The song is gently meandering at it's own pace until the chorus soars and the bridge kicks-in - a delicious cacophony of reverbed country guitar - before Geneviève drops the tone and pace for the closing bars. The whole song is quite elegantly crafted.
"Le Manteau" is another relaxing folk-song. Again simple accompaniment that acts to highlight - and it has to be said - stunningly sweet, dulcet vocals of frightening clarity... And the voice is again to the fore on the closing track of this all to short collection. The EP closes with "Multicolore," a wistful tale about being in a relationship with the almost-perfect partner and which offers the most ridiculous of catchy choruses.
If you have a penchant for gentle - but never syrupy - pop with a distinctive but never over-powering country-folk tinge; all of which are married to the most hypnotic - and yes, relaxing - of vocals, then you really need to check out this EP. It truthfully doesn't matter whether you can understand French or not.
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