De La Caucase

The album opens with a waltzing melody reminiscent of a "Greensleeves" played in complete darkness. From there the sound of the doudouk dislodges the music's time frame even further. When singer Hrair Hratchian's baritone begins to emote in Armenian it becomes clear: you've stepped into an Atom Egoyan movie. De La Caucase is a Montreal group whose foul mood is expressed in both French and Armenian. Musically they hold true to the worldly origins of their sound which they enhance with occasional Birthday Party-style bursts of ecstatic energy. If the theatrics don't disengage your enjoyment the ride into darkness is one worth taking.