A collective of
Cajun
musicians who have found their way to the Bay Area here combine with
Andrew Carriere
, a
zydeco
musician having similarly made the move to California. The result is surprisingly vivid. Where
music can dry out with the scratchiness of its instruments and ultimate devotion to history,
can loosen up the sound. The women of the
Creole Belles
present songs they've learned from a wide array of the greats of
music --
Dewey Balfa
,
Canray Fontenot
Dennis McGee
the Savoys
. At the same time,
Carriere
shows up to the party with songs from folks like
Boozoo Chavis
. The mix of influences means that while there are
traditional
waltzes aplenty, there are also stretches of sheer romp (including a
Buckwheat Zydeco
cover that's always a crowd pleaser). While
albums can get a little monotonous hiding behind a fiddle or two, the addition of a couple of accordions here keeps the pace of the album moving and the tone a little more varied. All of the musicians play a part in making an outstanding ensemble of sound. There's never a missed note, and the vocals are all on point. At the same time, though, there's a spark of spontaneity in the music, a lack of engineered sound.
music has its league of greats who should always be looked to for an introductory purchase, but the
have the sounds of those greats built into their playing in small ways, and deserve a listen for any fan of Louisianan music. ~ Adam Greenberg