Hart Rouge
NOUVELLE FRANCE
Red House 122
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This newest offering from Hart Rouge is filled with the same rich vocal intricacies as the first disc, as well as continuing the rich tradition of telling good stories with their songs. The waffling on the stars is part of the quandary this disc presents to me. The first disc was so strong, with the rich vibrant harmonies that I was anticipating another equally exciting life filled release from this Canadian group on their 2nd Red House release. This one seems to lack the initial fire of that disc. Yes, the vocals don't back down at all compared to the initial release, but there seems to be something missing on this one. There seems to be a laid back or 'new age' laissez-faire to this one so that it doesn't have the fire that made the first disc such a tour de force. The strengths are there. Paul's voice is as smooth as ever, Michelle's crisp soaring voice was never stronger than it is here, in fact it is even better than the first disc. Then there is the sensual almost fiery quality of Suzanne's vocals that carries the listener into the emotional highs and lows of life. Their strength is of their singing together which is reaching new heights that only can only come from the added time and miles on the road that the heavier touring schedule can produce. Listen to the amazing results their voices can produce as evidenced by the song TROIS HOMMES NOIR. It has only gotten more mature and exciting over this time. Their are some wonderful songs on this disc also, give a listen to the soaring of Suzanne's voice on DANNY GAUDRY, or the richness of Paul's singing and the harmonies on, FLY ALL OVER (which has a WILLIE AND THE HAND JIVE bounce to it). This tune in particular stands out as a tribute to their ease in moving back and forth between their twin cultures. They grew up on the plains of Saskatchewan, Canada, in one of the few enclaves of the French language and culture west of Quebec. The initial fire of the first disc is missing, but this is nevertheless an exceeding strong release that deserves a good listen.
Songs, times, writers, and musicians
MARIE CAISSIE - 3:21 - trad. arrangement by Michelle, Paul and Suzanne Campagne
vocals - Suzanne Campagne
acoustic guitar, bass, harmony vocal - Paul Campagne
electric and acoustic slide guitar - Davy Gallant
harmony vocal - Michelle Campagne
Percussions - Michael Dupire
COME BACK FOR ME - 4:59 - lyrics and music Michelle Campagne
vocal and acoustic guitar - Michelle Campagne
electric guitar - Davy Gallant
harmony vocal, bass - Paul Campagne
harmony vocal - Suzanne Campagne
percussions - Michel Dupire
DANNY GAUDRY - 3:21 - lyrics Suzanne Campagne - music Paul Campagne, Connie Kaldor
vocal - Suzanne Campagne
acoustic guitar, bass, harmony vocal - Paul Campagne
acoustic and electric guitars - Davy Gallant
harmony vocal - Michelle Campagne
percussions - Michel Dupire
FLY ALL OVER - 3:10 - lyrics and music - Ray Bonneville
vocal, acoustic guitar, bass - Paul Campagne
slide guitar - Davy Gallant
harmony vocal - Suzanne and Michelle Campagne
percussions - Michel Dupire
HELP ME HELP YOU - 3:46 - lyrics Suzanne Campagne - music Michelle Campagne
vocal, piano - Michelle Campagne
electric and acoustic guitar - Davy Gallant
harmony vocal, fretless bass - Paul Campagne
harmony vocal - Suzanne Campagne
percussions - Michel Dupire
TROIS HOMMES NOIRS - 5:24 - trad. - arrangements - Michelle, Paul, Suzanne Campagne, Davy Gallant, Michel Dupire
vocal, acoustic guitar, bass - Paul Campagne
vocal acoustic guitar - Michelle Campagne
harmony vocal - Suzanne Campagne
electric guitar, harmony vocal - Davy Gallant
harmony vocal - Toby Gendron
percussion, bells - Michel Dupire
WALK HOME - 4:01 - lyrics - Suzanne Campagne - music Davy Gallant, Suzanne Campagne
vocals - Suzanne Campagne
acoustic guitar, harmony vocal - Michelle Campagne
acoustic and electric guitars - Davy Gallant
bass, harmony vocal -
percussions - Michel Dupire
ROMANTIC PROMENADE - 5:08 - lyrics Michelle Campagne - music Eddy Louiss
Vocal, accordeon - Michelle Campagne
vocal, acoustic guitars, bass - Paul Campagne
electric and acoustic guitar, mandolin - Davy Gallant
harmony vocal - Suzanne Campagne
percussions - Michel Dupire
NIGHT ON A HILL - 4:28 - lyrics and music Roy Forbes
vocal - Michelle Campagne
acoustic guitar, harmony vocal - Paul Campagne
harmony vocal - Suzanne Campagne
acoustic guitar - Davy Gallant
vibrephone - Michel Dupire
BITTERSWEET GRACE - 4:08 - lyrics Suzanne Campagne - music Davy Gallant, Suzanne Campagne
vocal - Suzanne Campagne
acoustic guitar, bass, harmony vocal - Paul Campagne
acoustic guitar, Uilleann pipes, flute - Davy Gallant
acoustic guitar, harmony vocal - Michelle Campagne
percussions - Michel Dupire
BRAVE MARTIN - 3:43 - trad. arrangements - Michelle, Paul and Suzanne Campagne
vocal, acoustic guitar - Paul Campagne
harmony vocal, accordeon - Michelle Campagne
harmony vocal - Suzanne Campagne
Produced by - Michelle, Paul and Suzanne Campagne with Toby Gedron, Davy Gallant, and Michel Dupire