(RCA Victor)
Herald rating: * *
Review: Russell Baillie
It's probably a mistake to listen to this soundtrack of the music behind the cosmic Canadian circus, which started its Auckland season last night, without having seen the performances it accompanies.
On its own it's all rather melodramatic, obvious and a mite plastic, especially
Monsieur Dupere's synthesizer-based instrumentals — think a semi-organic Vangelis heavy on the classical guitar and accordions, or sometimes bits of a Sting album when he's feeling a bit exotic and you're about there.
But it does have a saving grace or two in main voice Francesca Gagnon, who does both chanson-styled ballads and gypsy operatics over rampaging squeezeboxes and fevered strings.
Undoubtedly those entranced by the live show will find it a pleasing souvenir.
But you have to wonder why music purpose-built as an accompaniment to contortionists plays it so straight?
