Each week, our journalists give you their opinion on three new musical releases recently released on QUB musique. To discover...
He made his mark with his first two solo efforts. But today, Harry Styles consolidates his title as the new prince of pop with his third album, Harry's House.
Influenced by the David Bowies and other Fleetwood Macs of this world, the Briton has this time succeeded in distilling his influences to emulate the style of his idols while imposing his own style. It's natural, it's sincere, but, above all, it's downright interesting.
Only [very small] downside? We are still waiting for the exuberance and eccentricity of the ex-One Direction to be reflected more in the musical portion of his career. But nonetheless. Harry Styles has the makings of the greats. Harry's House disperses all doubts. (Bruno Lapointe)
► A Harry Styles album
With Transfiguration, cellist Stéphane Tétreault and harpist Valérie Milot offer a very interesting album made up of contemporary works and a successful marriage between these two instruments. The album got off to a good start with the Trois variations sur La Folia suite by Alexandre Grogg and a jazz finale with drummer Bernard Riche. The sequence of the piece D’un cygne l’autre, by the same composer, with the segment Le Cygne, from Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals, is particularly successful. Just like Marjan Mozetich's Tranfigured Sentiment. Transfiguration is a beautiful audacity and goes beyond the paths of interpretation too often traveled. It ends with a nod to progressive rock and an interpretation of Cogs in Cogs by Gentle Giant. We can't wait to see it on stage. (Yves Leclerc)
► An album by Valérie Milot and Stéphane Tétreault
This first new album by the Canadian group Stars in 5 years is tender, danceable and with evocative lyrics as the members have been rubbing shoulders for two decades already. The title track Capelton Hill is a "typically Stars" track through which a couple find themselves at a crossroads after living a long and tumultuous relationship. The duo of lead singers formed by Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan have kept their winning formula: two voices sailing between question-and-answer verses and refrains sung in unison. This 9th album happily follows the path most traveled by the group which, if it offers nothing really new here (except perhaps the pretty track Patterns), is always pleasant to listen to on record or to see perform live. (Sarah-Emilie Nault)
► An album of Stars