I found this 2nd hand album in my neighborhood record shop, and picked it up because of the cute cover. I played a couple songs on the spot, and decided I liked it enough to buy it - not knowing all the time that it really is the product of an early version of Malicorne, under another name. I was already familiar with Malicorne, as I had a couple of their vinyl LP's already. I hadn't researched their history at all, though - to me they were a less electric, French-speaking version of Steeleye Span, which is definitely a good thing! I had no idea whether their songs were really based on traditional French music or just Celtic folk with French lyrics. It turns out that singer/bandleader Gabriel Yacoub was initially influenced by English and Irish traditional music rather than French. Then he came across famous French/Breton harpist Alain Stivell, who introduced him to the Celtic roots of his own country. He then joined Stivell's band for a couple of years, but was disappointed by their exclusive use of the Breton language and music style, and formed a new group with wife Marie and friends, focusing on antique French music in general. On this, their first album, they sound like a combination of Steeleye Spann and Gryphon: Like the latter group, they use many instruments from the Renaissance period, making this more traditional/less prog-rock oriented compared to subsequent releases under the name of Malicorne. The songs are mostly traditional, played in Celtic style. Often they sound a bit too jaunty, with a much faster tempo than in other versions. This suits some songs ("Quand J' étais Fille A Marier", loud bagpipes here) better than others ("Au Chant De L' alouette"). The instrumentation is full and generally sounds quite authentic, featuring antique instruments like the bombard, crumhorn, hurdy-gurdy, dulcimers etc. alongside violin, bagpipes, banzo, bodhrán, bouzouki and others common in modern Celtic music. Gabriel & Marie often sing duets, or take turns on lead and backing vocals. To be honest, I like all of Marie's songs, but Gabriel's voice sounds a bit too whiny or nasal to me. His "Le Long De La Mer Jolie" is dominated by a deep and mournful harmonium, while Provençal ballad "Rossignolet Du Bois" is a more melodic duet. "Deux Bransles De Bourgogne" is a loud and cheerful Celtic instrumental, and "Le Prince D' Orange" a 16th Century ballad with a suitably war-like rhythm and nice violin. "Pierre de Grenoble" comes from the same period and approaches prog rock for once: at 6:46' there's even space for some understated blues rock guitar, as well as a long, slightly accelerated, instrumental coda. The album closes with an acapela performance of "La Fleur De Lys". There are a number of songs here dating from the 16th or 17th Century, but this one sounds like the oldest and most authentic of them all. Nevertheless, it is the only original composition, written by Gabriel Yacoub. I wouldn't recommend to anyone interested in Malicorne, or French folk in general, to start here. Their later albums retain the traditional elements while going towards a more accessible prog rock direction. But if you're already a fan of the band, or of Breton/Celtic music, you'll find a lot to love here.
**** for Au Chant De L'alouette, Le Long De La Mer Jolie, Quand J'étais Fille A Marier, Je Suis Trop Jeunette, Pierre De Grenoble, Deux Bransles De Bourgogne, Rossignolet Du Bois, An - Dro
*** for Scottishe - Bourrée, Le Prince D'Orange, La Pension, La Fleur De Lys
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