Electro-Beatniks

“Like a 21st century Joni Mitchell, between jazz and spoken word, with samplings and a discrete touch of electronica, Electro-Beatniks imposes its poetry, aerial yet compact, without ostentation, and its bewitching atmospheres. How much we bet that the old beatniks would have appreciated? A pure delight.”

—Stanley Pean, Voir

“Electro-Beatniks is one of the most refined, intelligent, simple and communicative musical works presented recently. [...] Five stars.”

—Talkena Wasungu , The Hudson Gazette

“Spring Fever. Young’s go-for-broke creative spirit shines on this beauty, with its light hip-hop beat and Auclair’s driving bass line underpinning bittersweet, melodic chord changes. Elsewhere on this new edgy collaboration, there’s beatnik poetry!”

—Bernard Perusse, The Montreal Gazette

Description

The merging of two universes and two generations of artists, Karen Young and Eric Auclair revisite the classic bass / voice duo. The crystalline voice of Karen Young and the remarkable musical atmosphere created by Eric Auclair's unique blend of acoustic and electronic sounds: A welcome convergence bound together with words of infinite compassion for human nature. A surprising journey through the music of words and the poetry of sound.

Labyrinth (Lyrics: Young / Music: Auclair & Young)
Circle of seasons (Lyrics: Young /Music: Auclair & Young)
To be or not to be (Lyrics: Young /Music: Auclair & Young)
Mother's not well (Lyrics: Norman Achneepineskum /Music: Auclair & Young)
Spring fever (Lyrics: Young /Music: Auclair & Young)
Last laugh (Lyrics: Wilfred Owen /Music: Auclair & Young)
Poppies (Lyrics: Young /Music: Auclair & Young)
Children at play (Lyrics: Young /Music: Auclair & Young)
A riddle (Lyrics: Young /Music: Auclair & Young)
Promised land (Lyrics: Young /Music: Auclair & Young)
Mystic sky (Lyrics: Young /Music: Auclair & Young)

Vocals — Karen Young
Upright bass, electric bass, percussion & programming — Eric Auclair

Recorded at Studio Karisma:
Sound recording — Guy Hebert, Dominic Despins, Eric Auclair
Mix — Guy Hebert, Eric Auclair, Karen Young
Mastering — Guy Hebert

Album cover :
Graphic design and illustration — Sophie Lyonnais
Photography — Mamoru Kobayakama

Electro-Beatniks
Talkena Wasungu, The Hudson Gazette

Electro-Beatniks, the new album from the duo of Karen Young and Eric Auclair, might be one of the most significant releases on this year's musical landscape. Not because it will top the charts (even if we hope it does). Not because we have a special affection for Karen, but because Electro-Beatniks is one of the most refined, intelligent, simple and communicative musical works presented recently. No chauvinism.

“I brought out my old pen and wrote some lyrics” are Karen's words as she describes one of the outcome of her collaboration with Eric Auclair. Well, thank you Mr. Auclair, because the result is convincing. Poppies is great example, where Karen enters the spoken word territory, sharing thoughts and emotions on war. But the duo is also bringing to music words from others, such as Last Laugh, a poem by Wilfred Owen. This ones just moves you…really powerful. There is no need to comment on Karen's vocal performance — she is one of the greatest. With Auclair's bass, coupled with his intelligent and subtle percussion and programming… Five stars.