Desmorais

Julie Doiron is the most entrancing chanteuse at this North American block party. Fans of her work as a founding member of early '90s hyper-moody Eric's Trip will be thrilled with this latest chapter in her body of work. "Désormais" is the French-language record Doiron has always wanted to create. Although mostly sung in French (all but one song), it still contains all of the hallmark characteristics of Doiron's songwriting -- music of spartan beauty and songs that tend towards understated moodiness. Whether or not you understand French, Doiron's stylized guitar and vocal melodicism are so lyrical they need no translation. It's no surprise that this Acadian songwriter from Montreal, Quebec, is often compared to songwriters of a previous generation. Perhaps the most appropriate comment made by any writer is how Doiron's "moody minor key whispers make Joni Mitchell seem almost giddy by comparison."