Celebrating his first week of living in Montreal, Ottawa ex-pat Isaac Vallentin inaugurated the Thursday's (September 14) events at the Ukrainian Federation Hall with a set of stripped-down folksy love ballads. He was joined by former bandmate Yolande Laroche (of Pony Girl) on clarinet, whose arrangements added a sprightly interplay to his songs.
While Vallentin's recorded output is elevated by chamber folk accompaniment, the simplified arrangements — with only Vallentin's voice, acoustic guitar and Laroche's clarinet — often dulled the intricacies of his songs, turning them into a repetitive swirl of introspection and longing. Vallentin said it himself during some of his standard, self-effacing banter: "Every one of my songs is exactly the same."
Nevertheless, it was clear that the songs were canvasses for richer instrumentation. A sturdy strum on the low E string during set highlight "Bay of the Dock" evoked the rich tones of a cello, while Laroche's playful clarinet showcased the space for exploration that each of Vallentin's songs carries. A pleasant start to the evening, it painted Vallentin as the consummate troubadour, arriving in Montreal with good ideas and an earnest disposition.
While Vallentin's recorded output is elevated by chamber folk accompaniment, the simplified arrangements — with only Vallentin's voice, acoustic guitar and Laroche's clarinet — often dulled the intricacies of his songs, turning them into a repetitive swirl of introspection and longing. Vallentin said it himself during some of his standard, self-effacing banter: "Every one of my songs is exactly the same."
Nevertheless, it was clear that the songs were canvasses for richer instrumentation. A sturdy strum on the low E string during set highlight "Bay of the Dock" evoked the rich tones of a cello, while Laroche's playful clarinet showcased the space for exploration that each of Vallentin's songs carries. A pleasant start to the evening, it painted Vallentin as the consummate troubadour, arriving in Montreal with good ideas and an earnest disposition.
