Yann-Fañch Perroches & Fañch Landreau/daou ha daou/Keltia Musique/1999
Personnel:
Yann-Fañch Perroches: Diatonic accordion
Fañch Landreau: Violin
A combination of instruments more commonly found in Irish music but only beginning to emerge in Breton recordings is the duo of fiddle and accordion. With “daou-ha-daou”, which translates from the Breton as ‘two and two’ or ‘duet’, two of the brightest stars in the Breton firmament have created an instrumental masterpiece of tender and moving dance music.
Fiddler Fañch Landreau and accordionist Yann Fañch Perroches are best known for their work in the legendary dance group Skolvan. In daou-ha-daou they continue together as a more intimate pair whose musical center of gravity is found in the dark and vibrant rhythmic impulse of the Fest Noz dance repertoire. The sensitive playing and subtly intertwined voices are very much intended for listening as well as dance, however. The tunes, both traditional and original, constantly take interesting melodic twists and turns, all the while maintaining the essential dance swing. This finely wrought combination of complex arrangements and seductive rhythm makes daou-ha-daou a treat for the ears as well as the feet, and propels it into that rare category of recording that effortlessly grows in stature with repeated listening. The CD-Rom capabilities of the disc provide extra bonuses in the form of scores and tablature for the tunes, as well as a charming series of photos of the musicians.
-Fañch
