After two years of performing, composing, rehearsing and recording, Olivier Adoue walks along a new path towards a more poetic sound with his second release « La grâce matinée ».
With its acoustic instrumentation, French and English texts and a strong dose of improvisation, « La grâce matinée » stays true to the acoustic character of the first release, « Pêche aux rêves », a mostly instrumental album. However, this time around the Montrealer devoted more creative energy towards lyrics and musical arrangements. He also invited a dozen local musicians to participate on the recording, which adds to the diversity of musical textures. The result is a folky-jazz sound coupled with world music influences.
The album was recorded in part at The Treatment Room studio and at Productions Calendule studio, which also acts as an independent music label for the CD. The mixing was done by Olivier Adoue at Productions Calendule studio. Ryan Moorey, who has mastered releases from Arcade Fire and Jean Leloup, assured that there was a dynamic and even flow from one song to the next. The music was mastered at Ryebread Mastering Studio in Montreal using analog equipment and recorded to quarter inch tape before being transferred to digital media.
The album’s overall sound is akin to a morning light which is enveloped by vocal harmonies, a fairy-like mandolin, exotic middle-eastern percussion and a mellow brass section. At times, the text leads one to reflection, as in the Bob Dylan inspired « It’s okay to feel lonely ». Other tunes such as « La grâce matinée » and « Rhymes and time » describe an adventurer’s trials and tribulations in story form. In another light, the tale of an extra-terrestrial being vacationing on earth in « Alien blues » and a mile-end hipster that rarely leaves his neighborhood in « La moitié du monde » bring about a comedic air to the collection of songs.