Canadian and Québecoise singer Andréanne A. Malette released a new album, Les Jardins Dérangés (The Disturbed Gardens). The themes are soul-searching, love, and life in general.
The music is French Pop and Folk. It’s impressive to hear contemporary music with 60s/70s style Folk. The composers and musicians did a remarkable job with the compositions of these dynamic songs that are calming and immersive. The wavy rhythm throughout the record adds a nostalgic vibe.
The album has fun, semi-fast songs. L’horizon has a beautiful, relaxing rhythm that complements the vibe of a spiritual journey. The guitar adds a cozy feel. Les frontières has a lovely folksy vibe. The wavy rhythm is remarkable, giving it a fun road trip feeling.
The record has incredible ballads. Le Reste Du Temps (the rest of the time) has a soothing rhythm, and Francis Cabrel is credited with the beautiful music. Au pied du grand chêne has an incredible guitar sound. It parallels Francis Cabrel’s 70s single Je l’aime à mourir. It picks up in tempo later, then slows again in this intricate composition. Les Jardins Dérangés has a lovely piano and violin. It reminds me of Nicola Ciccone’s song Difficile L’amour but with a slightly faster tempo. Juste Pour Aujourd’hui (feat. Antoine Lachance) has an impressive gradient composition rich in melodies. Vivre has fantastic music suitable for contemplation with a smooth rhythm- the drums and piano playing harmoniously. Une Maison has a piano playing in the background. It parallels Richard Marx’s Right Here Waiting but with a slightly faster tempo. There’s a nostalgic vibe. Ici et maintenant ends the album with uplifting music. It reminds me of Christina Perri’s 2011 single Arms.
Brume is a phenomenal musical piece. The musicians did a remarkable job with the tempo changes, which reminded me of a symphony concert and gave the album a bold edge. It reminds me of two songs by Celine Dion: Where Does My Heart Beat Now, and It’s All Coming Back to Me Now, but with slower piano music. It also parallels the score of a thriller movie. The piece ends with a piano fade-out- individual keys being played. The compositions are distinctive and intricate.
The music throughout the album is beautifully well-structured, with impressive tempo changes.
Andréanne A. Malette’s voice is soft and husky. She sounds rhythmic and sings each song with heart and soul. Her vocal style is calm.
There’s a lovely piece called Juste Pour Aujourd’hui featuring Antoine Lachance. Their voices complement each other nicely.
The lyrics are profound and poetic. The songs are rich in language, full of metaphors and fantastic imagery. Each one has an incredible storytelling element and intricate lyrics. The record is expressive with remarkable freestyle writing.
The primary theme of Andréanne A. Malette’s album is soul-searching. L’horizon (The Horizon) is an inspirational song about women’s empowerment while remaining open to eventually finding love. It also has a hopeful message about not rushing into anything, especially if it’s true love. The tune Les frontières (the borders) is a lovely metaphor for opening one’s mind and horizons to possibilities. It’s optimistic, hopeful and positive. Au pied du grand chêne (At the foot of the big oak) is a profound piece about getting to know oneself through the beautiful metaphor of nature and all its beauty. Les Jardins Dérangés (The Disturbed Gardens) is a fantastic song about finding oneself and figuring out what’s essential in life, including self-care and self-love – focusing on oneself. It’s a well-written piece about contemplation. The details about nature and seasons are a well-thought-out idea. The song Vivre (Living) tells a great story about wanting to live life to the fullest, such as showing appreciation to loved ones, enjoying the little pleasures and learning to find happiness from within. The sense of determination and positivity is lovely. Une Maison (a home) is a beautiful piece about taking time for oneself, a personal journey of self-discovery through emotional healing. It also reminds me of the spiritual journey that some people have in life. The song is rich in poetry and imagery through nature and nostalgic moments.
Ici et Maintenant (here and now) is a moving song about self-care and self-love. It covers the journey to becoming more confident and independent of what others think. The album ends on a note of empowerment and hope.
There are also sweet romantic songs. Le Reste Du Temps (the rest of the time) is a relatable and from-the-heart love story about the ups and downs of a relationship. Juste Pour Aujourd’hui (just for today), featuring Antoine Lachance, is a profound song about relationship struggles. Yet, there’s a glimmer of hope that things will improve, described through the seasonal metaphors of the snowstorm and spring coming soon.
The lyrics are profound with beautiful poetry, especially phenomenal metaphors.
The album Les Jardins Dérangés is available.
