Les soeurs Boulay

I am one of those individuals who love listening music while working at their computers. The music I listen is a happy mix between safe values and new things. Among the new releases of recent months, there is the latest album by Jean-Michel Blais, Bruce Springsteen or Patrick Watson which I often listen to repeatedly. However, the album I listen the most is the latest album by the Boulay sisters.

I knew their first albums but I was not a fan. I appreciate the harmonies of their voice but the texts spoke little to me. So I started listening to the album “La mort des étoiles” with little expectation. I enjoyed the first listening, I listened to a second time, a third, fourth, nth time and as it does not happen very often I was moved.

This album speaks to my soul, elevating me to the point of vertigo. Ecoanxiety – “because there is no other option” -, after #metoo, feminism, all these concerns are reflected in this generous disc crossed by love and beautiful light. Ample and generous, “La mort des étoiles” is carried by fabulous harmonies and neat melodies, gravity, but also lightness, and half of the songs include arrangements of strings.

The Boulay sisters are really my favorite of the year 2020. So much so that I went to see them live tonight at “Théatre de la ville” in the city of Longueuil. And I was not disappointed. A great performance. Listen to their album, go see their show, you will be pleasantly surprised.

Farewell to Chris Squire

I was so sad yesterday to learn about the passing of Chris Squire, the legendary bass player and founding member of Yes. Of all the rock band I’ve listened in my youth, Yes has always been my favorite. Even today, on occasion, I listen to early Yes albums like Tales from Topographic Oceans or its first solo album Fish out of Water.

As I do not follow closely their career, I was not aware that Chris Squire was seriously ill. A few weeks ago, I listened to the song South Side of the Sky from the Fragile album. What a masterpiece. The lyrics expand on the idea that death could be beautiful. Not only do I love the power of this song but I also enjoy just as much the wordless vocal harmonies with Rick Wakeman’s piano. As wrote to me earlier today my childhood friend Luc Viau, “We just lost a great musician who scored the music of our teens.”

Soon, oh soon the light
Pass within and soothe this endless night
And wait here for you
Our reason to be here

Soon, oh soon the time
All we move to gain will reach and calm
Our heart is open
Our reason to be here

Long ago, set into rhyme…