Posted at 7:00 am.
New government, Philippe B
This Philippe B album is pure splendor, certainly one of the best of the year, all categories combined. It's as if the singer-songwriter has honed his art of songwriting to the point where he has achieved complete clarity: every chord, every inflection, every word is thoughtful and, above all, meaningful. But intelligence and mastery are no barrier to emotions that are expressed throughout this album, which speaks of new beginnings and the passing of time. Already a classic song from Quebec, again by Philippe B.
song
New administration
Philippe B
Bon sound
Mitshuap, Kanen
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVE
Kanen
With all this excitement among First Nations artists, Kanen stands out. The Innu singer-songwriter was named Indigenous Artist and Discovery of the Year at ADISQ, a deserved one-two for a first album with raw indie-rock accents, sung in Innu-aimun and French, that asks more questions than answers about heritage and Identity contains and territory. Between gentleness and strength, between doubts and roots, Kanen is a true artist that we haven't heard the end of yet.
People
Mitshuap
Kanen
Nomadic music
Sprint!, Thierry Larose
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, LA PRESS ARCHIVE
Thierry Larose
It is the liveliness of this second album by Thierry Larose that gives it its charm, its slightly disordered side that joyfully navigates between influences and references to make it an explosive and irresistible whole. Some people regret the more grungy sound of his first album Cantalou, we loved everything about this Sprint! fiery, ambitious and melodic, with life overflowing everywhere. Thierry Larose is free as air, and that's all the better.
Indie pop
Sprint!
Thierry Larose
Bravo music
Holistic, Fanny Bloom
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, LA PRESS ARCHIVE
Fanny Bloom
With this fourth solo album in 10 years, Fanny Bloom asserts herself as one of the queens of electropop produced here. But in addition to the elaborate arrangements including strings and the impeccable studio work, there is – but not only – an additional layer of soul in this dance album that gives it an unexpected depth. The raw emotion suits the singer-songwriter, who has rediscovered a rich creative path after a long period of doubt. What good news.
Electropop
Holistic
Fanny Bloom
Audiogram
Inuktitut, Elisapie
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, LA PRESSE ARCHIVE
Elisapie
We could assume that Elisapie took the easy way out by recording covers of absolute classics that marked her youth “in the north”, like Heart of Glass or The Unforgiven. However, by adapting Pink Floyd and the Stones into her native language, the Inuk singer has created a moving album because she has put so much of her personal story into it that her soul shines through. The somewhat foggy cover that Joe Grass created also has something to do with the success of this work… anything but simple.
Indie rock
Inuktitut
Elisapie
Bon sound
My other five songs from 2023
Round trip, Hauterive
Ojala, Bobby Bazini
I dance, Maude Audet
Move, Dumas
The same blood, how overflowing