Rachel Therrien – CAPI

· by Frédéric Cardin

CAPI is the seventh album by trumpeter and composer Rachel Therrien. It is also, by far, her most innovative and experimental. Somewhere between free improvisation, contemporary writing and electro exploration, CAPI is above all a musical setting of the poetry of her grandfather, Charles Lebel-Therrien. This poetry is sometimes harsh, like the mineral Côte-Nord region in Quebec that is often celebrated, sometimes lyrical, like a sunset over the infinite horizon of Minganie (other name of the region), sometimes biting, like the wind blowing down from Labrador. Therrien brings to this deeply personal tribute exploded electro sounds, modified drums, sinuous guitar and her trumpet, here soaring, elsewhere explosive. All to bring grandpa’s lyrics to life, recited/sung by Caroline Tremblay. 

This album takes us totally out of this world. If the Côte-Nord panorama is already a something that seems to have been transposed here from another planet, Rachel’s music confirms the feeling of strangeness that can be associated with it. Explosions of rock, ethereal cries and schizophrenic atmospheres are superimposed on moments of gentleness and beatific, spellbinding contemplation. 

CAPI is also an opportunity to discover CEM, the Centre d’expérimentation musicale, a Saguenay-based organization dedicated to creative music and that has been a strong partner in the realisation of this project. It’s reassuring to see that outside of Montreal, North America’s major hub for contemporary music, there’s life for demanding sounds. Bravo!

Be prepared to be deeply surprised and shaken by this album, which we never saw coming, if the previous six were anything to go by. 

Latest 360 Content

FIRE! Orchestra at FIMAV: Power Trio Meets Canadian Community of Avant-Garde Players

FIRE! Orchestra at FIMAV: Power Trio Meets Canadian Community of Avant-Garde Players

Blondshell – If You Asked For a Picture

Blondshell – If You Asked For a Picture

Hitting a Fever Pitch at the Ribbon Skirt LP Launch 

Hitting a Fever Pitch at the Ribbon Skirt LP Launch 

Wu-Tang Clan & Mathematics – Black Samson, the Bastard Swordsman.

Wu-Tang Clan & Mathematics – Black Samson, the Bastard Swordsman.

Dalit Hadass Warshaw, Boston Modern Orchestra Project / Gil Rose – Sirens

Dalit Hadass Warshaw, Boston Modern Orchestra Project / Gil Rose – Sirens

Howard Shore/Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France – Shore : Anthology

Howard Shore/Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France – Shore : Anthology

Quatuor Diotima – Boulez : Livre pour quatuor

Quatuor Diotima – Boulez : Livre pour quatuor

LMNL – Rainbow

LMNL – Rainbow

Strat Andriotis – Exits

Strat Andriotis – Exits

Richard Reed Parry – The Actor

Richard Reed Parry – The Actor

Tamara Stefanovich – Organised Delirium

Tamara Stefanovich – Organised Delirium

Galan Trio – Embrace

Galan Trio – Embrace

Jack Van Zandt – A Chaos of Light and Motion

Jack Van Zandt – A Chaos of Light and Motion

Tommy Crane – Reality Curated: Live at Ursa

Tommy Crane – Reality Curated: Live at Ursa

Thomas DeLio – Anti-paysage

Thomas DeLio – Anti-paysage

No Hay Banda – Steven Kazuo Takasugi : Il Teatro Rosso

No Hay Banda – Steven Kazuo Takasugi : Il Teatro Rosso

Vancouver Contemporary Orchestra; Vancouver Chamber Choir – Christopher Tyler Nickel : Mass; Te Deum

Vancouver Contemporary Orchestra; Vancouver Chamber Choir – Christopher Tyler Nickel : Mass; Te Deum

Hypercube – The Force for Good

Hypercube – The Force for Good

PUP – Who Will Look After the Dogs?

PUP – Who Will Look After the Dogs?

Duo AYA – Cycles

Duo AYA – Cycles

Papillon Social Club – Dur de la feuille

Papillon Social Club – Dur de la feuille

Coalescent Quartet – The Wall Between Us

Coalescent Quartet – The Wall Between Us

Samuel Bonnet Trio – Live in Harmony

Samuel Bonnet Trio – Live in Harmony

Subscribe to our newsletter