Cordial

Having survived for more than a quarter century, Quebec's La Bottine Souriante continue to excel with a mix of Acadian roots, Cajun instincts, and other influences extending borders and seas. From the Latino rhythms and congas on the opening Dans Paris y'a t'une brune to the reels and jazz hues on Set a Ubert, the nine members dive into a variety of styles and genres with the same toe-tapping feel-good result. Reels and gigs are in abundance but oddly enough it is the horn section, not the persistent fiddling of Michel Bordeleau, that gives the added memorable boost from start to finish. Only on J'ai Fait une Maitresse does the ballad structure get introduced and it tends to get lost in the up-tempo shuffles. The ease with which each genre is blended into the mix is a testament to the group's longevity and talent. Listeners would find it difficult to find some more eclectic in the realm of world music.