Country : Canada (Quebec) Label : Simone Genres and styles : Folk Rock / Indie Folk Year : 2020

Boîte aux lettres

· by Claude André

While indulging her passion for vintage clothing, one of the girls in the trio Hay Babies came across… a bread bag containing an epistolary exchange dating back to 1965!

It was about 60 letters that a certain Jacqueline (Jackie), who had moved to Montreal, wrote to her mother in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Imagining the rest, including the mother’s responses to her defiant offspring, if we consider the habitus of the time, there was enough material to create a whole concept album. Bingo!

This immediately gives the work in question, Boîte aux lettres, a certain aura of mystery, with songs with ’60s pop-psychedelic accents that playfully encourage a plunge into a Beatlesque past.

Moreover, the cover seems to be inspired by the Fab Four’s Rubber Soul, while “Jouer avec le feu” is a French adaptation of the Stones’ “Play With Fire”.

There’s a tasty juxtaposition here and there of sweet refrains and mischievous riffs, while the sulphurous smoke of Melody Nelson-era Gainsbourg lingers.

Produced by the trio composed of Katrine Noël (bass, drums, percussion, vocals), Vivianne Roy (guitars, drums, percussion, vocals) and Julie Aubé (guitars, piano, synthesizer, vocals), as well as the faithful Pierre Guy Blanchard, who produced the first two albums of the merry band, here’s a very spicy, surprisingly unique and refined sound.

For its part, Anna Frances Meyer’s flute, present on several pieces, brings a breath of cheerfulness and the carefree ’60s to the ensemble: “In 1970, I will finally be able to show my thighs” (from “In California”).

It seems that one day we’ll be able to see them on stage again, where the Hay Babies’ exciting energy is at its peak. Here’s hoping.

Latest 360 Content

Mundial Montreal | Royal Treatment for Magdala

Mundial Montreal | Royal Treatment for Magdala

Mundial Montréal | Eli Levinson Presents The ENTIRE Program!

Mundial Montréal | Eli Levinson Presents The ENTIRE Program!

Festival Marathon de M pour MTL | Mikey’s Programming Overview

Festival Marathon de M pour MTL | Mikey’s Programming Overview

Tryptique

Tryptique

Peggy Lee & Cole Schmidt – Forever Stories of: Moving Parties

Peggy Lee & Cole Schmidt – Forever Stories of: Moving Parties

Andrew Wells-Oberegger – Déjouer le glas

Andrew Wells-Oberegger – Déjouer le glas

Alfredo Santa Ana – Before the World Sleeps

Alfredo Santa Ana – Before the World Sleeps

BADBADNOTGOOD – Mid Spiral

BADBADNOTGOOD – Mid Spiral

Elisabeth Saint-Gelais – Infini

Elisabeth Saint-Gelais – Infini

Bryn Roberts – Aloft

Bryn Roberts – Aloft

Quatuor Esca – Esca

Quatuor Esca – Esca

Arthur Levering – OceanRiverLake

Arthur Levering – OceanRiverLake

Steven Osborne/London Philharmonic Orchestra, dir.: Edward Gardner – Tippett : Concerto pour piano; Symphonie no 2

Steven Osborne/London Philharmonic Orchestra, dir.: Edward Gardner – Tippett : Concerto pour piano; Symphonie no 2

The inner cinema of composer and sound artist Roxanne Turcotte

The inner cinema of composer and sound artist Roxanne Turcotte

Coup de coeur francophone – Gabriella Olivo + Daria Colonna

Coup de coeur francophone – Gabriella Olivo + Daria Colonna

Guillaume Villeneuve and Quatuor Cobalt’s Reflets du temps

Guillaume Villeneuve and Quatuor Cobalt’s Reflets du temps

N NAO – Pleine Lune

N NAO – Pleine Lune

Coup de cœur francophone | OGB: A Triptych of EPs and A Pair of Jazz Bangereux For a Strong Comeback

Coup de cœur francophone | OGB: A Triptych of EPs and A Pair of Jazz Bangereux For a Strong Comeback

Elisabeth St-Gelais: “Poursuivie par le même rêve” at l’Infini

Elisabeth St-Gelais: “Poursuivie par le même rêve” at l’Infini

Coup de cœur francophone | Sarahmée Ascends The Throne

Coup de cœur francophone | Sarahmée Ascends The Throne

AmyJo Doh & the Spangles – Spangle Landia

AmyJo Doh & the Spangles – Spangle Landia

OSM | Alpine Symphony: When Woods Become Sherpas

OSM | Alpine Symphony: When Woods Become Sherpas

Francis Choinière and OPCM: 10 Seasons And Counting

Francis Choinière and OPCM: 10 Seasons And Counting

SAMWOY – Poison

SAMWOY – Poison

Subscribe to our newsletter