Denez

As a ferryman between two worlds, the visible one with that of the living and the invisible one with that of the dead, Denez skillfully mixes contemporary music with traditional, ancestral music. 

With this album open to the world, creator of images and dreams, Denez asserts himself a little more, if it was still needed, as one of the leaders of the Breton scene.
As on each of his records, the Breton language is put forward. The album begins with En avel a-benn, in the opposite wind, which is a true ode to the right of peoples, to the respect of languages, completely in line with the law on regional languages which has just been adopted by the French parliament, a song which gives pride of place to the cultural diversity that Denez has always defended.
Fourteen songs in the same vein follow one another for more than an hour, sometimes demanding, sometimes more mysterious, which give pride of place to eternal poetry, through the words of today.
From beginning to end, the emotion is palpable, the trance never far away, thanks to the successful meeting of traditional and electro instruments. The unique and sometimes vibrating voice of Denez is of course the backbone.
Throughout the tracks we discover associations that enrich the music, such as the Argentinean bandoneon that gives off a sweet melancholy on C'wervoni - Amertume.
Denez has invited several singers such as Aziliz Manrow and the rapper Oxmo Puccino on a dizzying Waltz of Life.
Throughout this superb opus, the guests follow one another or intertwine. Let's mention Yann Tiersen (piano, accordion, ondes Martenot) and Émilie Quinquis (vocals), Ronan Le Bars (uilleann pipes, whistle), Youenn Kamm (trumpet, flugelhorn) and his usual accomplices Jonathan Dour (violin and cello), Fred Guichen (diatonic accordion), Cyrille Bonneau (bagpipes, bombard, saxophone...) or Jean-Charles Guichen (guitar)... Without forgetting James Digger on keyboards and machines for the electro side.
Finally let us underline the beautiful performance of the Kevrenn Alre which closes the first piece. Absolutely fantastic.
From the first to the last note of the album, Denez's voice is full of emotion, of a poignant beauty, sometimes breathtaking.
If I add that Denez is the author of the magnificent drawings which illustrate the cover of this very beautiful object, one is not far from affirming that he is endowed with all the talents.
A real success. Surely one of the most beautiful Breton albums of the year 2021.

Coop Breizh DB 10 CD 1172 - https://www.coop-breizh.fr