Catherine Ribeiro RIP

In August of this year we lost one amazing French singer in Catherine Ribeiro.  Her voice was like no other and when I first heard her on the radio I was in love. Her album with the Alpes is another album that mixes genres and styles. These include, Folk, Psychedelic, Progressive and Experimental music. So many you think it would not sound or make sense. After one listen you will be pleasantly surprised. It's so good that you will play it again and again and wonder how this went into obscurity. It's music does not fit into the genres and styles I mentioned, but it creates it's own path.

The album wow's me with each listen. her voice is not really simple or like any other female singers.  At times its quiet and calming in other moments it will rip your head off. As for the instruments it's to be said that some are what we normally hear and some are homemade like a cosmophone and the percuphone which are homemade. These make the album far more interesting and once again change the playing field what music should be. For certain it's an album like no other and at first listen it does not have the sound of French music or music that comes from France. 

At first listen for me it was something I needed to hear more of. It was very addicting and very new to me and my ears. The first of only four songs on the album employ the homemade instruments. This also includes some non-lexical vocals. It melds and bends beautifully and makes you hit repeat a few times just to hear her voice. It's my favorite piece on the album, but then I love all the music on here.

The next song you see why her vocals are truly beautiful. It's a love song I was told and to hear this I can understand why. It's harmony vocals feel like a dreamy like state and she seams smitten with love. It's hard to explain, but it's a short piece and one that quickly gets your attention. I think also showcases her voice. It's the one song I play the most off the album. This was the first thing I heard of her when WFMU played it on a radio show I follow. 

The last two songs are over twelve minutes in length and they maneuver and meander everywhere and that is what I like about it. Piax the song is odd, but unique to itself. I like that about the album. The music opens up whole new worlds for the listener and her and the rest of the people playing around her.

In 1972’s Paix is when they become airborne. It stands as Ribeiro’s masterpiece because it comes the closest to containing her multitudes, housing her most beautiful composition and her most wildly experimental. (PITCHFORK Review 9/15/18.)

In all four of these songs It will blow your mind