While many pop artists have embraced neoclassicism, essentially to do post-Satie or neo-Glass, classical artists have decided to do pop instrumentation. The Esca Quartet is made up of Amélie Lamontagne and Edith Fitzgerald on violins, Sarah Martineau on viola and Julie Dessureault on cello. Kaven Girouard’s guitar, Julie Lamontagne’s piano and Anthony Albino’s drums also feature occasionally on this first full-length album. The four young women have solid classical training, but have been playing with pop artists such as Ingrid St-Pierre, Coeur de Pirate, Half Moon Run and Beyries for some time now.
There are points of convergence with the neoclassical style: exclusive consonance, simple rhythms. But there are also a few differences, like the resolutely pop beat and the very commercial studio wrapping. Esca has drive, an energy that invites you to move forward, without urgency but with conviction.
The compositions are essentially from the joint pen of Julie Lamontagne and Anthony Albino (add a ‘’ni‘’ to the end and he’s almost a classical composer), the duo you may know from their musical accompaniment on Bonsoir, Bonsoir! on Radio-Canada’s ICI Télé.
Music for the times, like André Gagnon’s Neiges half a century ago? It’s hard to say whether it will stick in our memories for as long as it did. For the time being, it’ll make a fitting soundtrack for a car ride (or an electric scooter, to keep the movement flowing, in the city).
