Topette!! are an Anglo-French folk group who play the sort of music you imagine you would have heard 300 years ago at a village dance.
Pipes, banjo, accordion, melodeon, fiddle, and bodhrán all figure (some say the bodhrán evolved in the mid-19th century from the tambourine, others say it is ancient) come together to make a sound you’d want to dance to after couple of jars of home brew. (Assuming you can dance; I once went to a wedding in Shetland and discovered to some horror that guests were expected to dance to music not a million miles from this for two nights running).
The set was recorded at The Jam Jar, a Bristol venue, and it has the feel of a live show in front a small but appreciative crowd. The band is really good (Blowzabella members are included) but while the musicianship is high and would be great if you were there, it is basically a dance album of trad music (song titles include “The Oblique Jig” and “Polka Know)”.
It doesn’t really take off as an album to listen to until the last couple of songs, especially “Galician Sher”, which has an Eastern / Tartar feel.
Earlier, “Winstanley / Les Trois Canards” has a similar feel and it is music to listen to as opposed to just dance.
This came out ages go and I lost it under a pile of paperwork but for folk fans, it’s a strong album. Good stocking fillers for your favourite folkie.
The band is Tania Buisse, bodhrán; Julien Cartonnet, French bagpipes and tenor banjo; Andy Cutting, diatonic accordion and melodeon; James Delarre, violin and viola and Barn Stradling, acoustic bass guitar.
Guests are Romain Chéré, violin and French bagpipes and Antoine Turpault, diatonic accordion.
See here et ici
