Genticorum

Malins Plaisirs: The critics

Their robust vocals & sheer energy are satisfying, but ultimately it’s the sense of playfulness married to a sonic richness - and those interesting original arrangements – that makes this recording such a devilish pleasure.
SONGLINES

The music of Québec may well be the up and coming genre in North American music. More and more bands, it seems, are emerging from the region, playing music distinctive from its Cape Breton cousins, with a wonderful rhythmic flare propelled, quite literally, by dancing feet. For a three piece, Genticorum makes a very full and glorious noise, both instrumentally and vocally. Curiously, for all that they’re Francophone, a song like “Les Tisserands” would sound perfectly at home in English folk with its rough-and-ready harmonies and nicely raw fiddle work. Yet at the same time they’re capable of a light, tasty set of jigs and reels like “Méo Grain d’Or”, for example where fiddle and flute float around each other over the guitar. Mixing traditional and original compositions, the trio stands quite assuredly in the history of their region’s music. There’s a real lightness of touch throughout, and the feet work every bit as well as a rhythmic ground as the bodhran does for Irish music. And when they add a second pair on “Méthé Métis”, along with a second fiddle, there’s a swelling fullness in the music. The three voices of the trio work well together, whether singing together or in antiphonal phrases. All in all they have a compelling sound that retains its joy. This is a band that’s going to go places.

Every once in a while an album stops you in its tracks. Such is the case with this latest collection from one of the most sought after proponents of Quebecois musical culture.

BLACKPOOL GAZETTE

Montreal power trio Genticorum, is a marvellous incarnation of the new tendency in trad-Quebec music. The milieu is unanimous about Genticorum: crooked tunes, twisted songs, random rhythms, previously unreleased repertoire, sometime Scandinavian inspiration, open chords, a small dose of trance in the dance, a sometimes airy groove, as good singers as musicians: the three members complete each other perfectly. All three are aggressive and folky at the same time, excellent in all phases of a harmonized song as in the most frenzied rhythms.

Genticorum has quickly become one of Québec’s favourite groups, regardless of the genre! Music lovers of all kinds have been waiting for this second recording and certainly no one will be disappointed. All the songs are traditional and were carefully chosen. Most of the instrumental tunes are originals from Pascal Gemme (fiddle). Guest artists include Claude Methé (fiddle) and Jean-François Bélanger (nickelharp). What strikes us the most about Genticorum is that they are all extraordinary singers and instrumentalists. Les malins plaisirs was recorded at the well-known studio du rang 4 in Joliette by André Marchand and Mark Busic.

Their most recent album, Malins Plaisirs, is a pure delight characterized by frequent use of heartrending minor tones served up with a full-of-life drive, absolutely gripping and irresistible.

That it’s about the inflamed (rogueish) and cadenced voice, the rhythmic arrangements (striking on L’Avocatier and Le Tic tac du Moulin) or the sound texture of the flute-violin-guitar fusion, everything on the album is remarkable (without forgetting to emphasize the extreme quality of the sound recording of essential duo Marchand-Busic from Studio du Chemin 4 in Joliette); it breathes gracefully. The song Les Tisserands is at the top of the trad Quebec genre. The record of the summer.

With their sense of fun firmly intact, the three members of Genticorum take us on another trip through Quebec’s rich musical traditions. We are treated to some wonderful songs and ‘complaintes’, cracking sets of tunes, and some innovative instrumental touches, such as the nickelharpa on Bonnet d’âne and a bass-o-tronic backdrop to Cascou. As we’ve said so many times in these pages, there’s tons of young groups coming out of Quebec these days. Genticorum are one of the best.

This trio combines the superb fiddling and compositional skills of Pascal Gemme, the spritely flute of Alexandre de Grosbois-Garand and the brilliant guitar work of Yann Falquet - who also plays with The McDades. Their instrumentals are remarkably complex and original - and brilliantly executed. Their songs, with glorious 3 part harmonies, tend to the ribald and amusing. Great music - and great fun!

Part of their appeal (especially beyond their core audience) is their youthful vigour to the traditional fare. Their music is jarring or raw but rather warm and inviting. All of the instruments are very well-balanced and easy to hear. It sounds like they are playing right in your oh-so-large living room. Their CD artwork, which is a painting of an apple as a heart with a bite taken out seems to tell you that Genticorum are expressing themselves as artists and are not just tour guides through a musical museum of yesteryear.