The Electro-Beatniks: Like bats out of heaven

Karen Young, acclaimed Quebec folk/jazz songstress of more then 30 years, sang her sacred heart out on Saturday August 3, in the dimly-lit, historic Hudson church, Saint Thomas D’Acquin. The venue provided spacious pews for her brethren of fans to gather for this “Grands Concerts” performance, kicking off the 2nd annual Hudson Music Festival. Her judicious delivery of poetry and soulful scatting throughout the night were set to the electro-styling of her skilled bassist, Éric Auclair.

Though this solid duo mostly complimented each other’s undeniable talents, Young’s vocals occasionally overpowered Auclair’s minimalist notes. Young opened with a song off of her new CD Electro-Beatniks (2008), “To be or not to be” which was a veritable array of quotes, cliché and commonly used expressions. Though this number did prove to her audience that not only is she a skilled singer but a remarkable actress, it did not however showcase her authenticity as a lyricist, “I rather she sings about something she knows about,” said audience member Stephanie Timmerman.

After a tepid first set, it was refreshing to see Young take a few steps back from her microphone to let Auclair demonstrate how this powerhouse ensemble puts together their beats and lyrics in their intimate practice sessions; a mixture of natural chords combined with electronic gadgets. “I am someone who can barely turn on a computer,” joked Young, who candidly spoke to the audience about her deficits in technology, as well as revelled in the joys of being a new grandmother. Her chattiness was a welcomed distraction to a couple of songs that seemed uncharacteristically reserved, lacking her usual abandon.

The second set offered a wide range of material that perked up not only her audience, but a couple of uninvited guests. Two bats who were hanging upside down in the back of the church swooped serendipitously low to the audience members heads as Young’s vocal range infected them with excitability. Amongst Young and Auclair’s finest performance of the night was the song “Labyrinth”. In this piece Auclair’s slow and sullen strumming shined next to Young’s invigorating poetics, “And you do your kids/ what your parents did to you/ what there parents did to them/ A certain running theme/A certain leaning/ And all those familiar tinted twists of fate,” sang Young. “I really like to sing about tragic things” remarked Young, reflecting her choice of material for the night. The crowd pleaser “Promised land” an ethno-conscious piece simultaneously about the diamond wars and the children of Israel, did not fail to deliver, “She displays the jewels that she bought/ While he displays the women that he compromised.”

The night ended on a high note, with a 14th century Italian song in the style of her previous CD “Âme, Corps et Désir”(2007), and a tender cover of the French song “Lucky, Lucky” as an ode Auclair’s favourite childhood tune.

The duo left the stage gratified and glowing for having been able to play a show so close to their roots. The audience could only hope that they consider taking those furry flyers on the road with The Electro-Beatniks for more impromptu touch of medieval combined with beat poetry at its finest. For more information of Karen Young, as well as a schedule of the duo’s upcoming performances, visit www.karenyoung.org.