Now that the children are grown up and planetary viruses are less pervasive, the group Les frères Goyette wanted to dive back into their musical adventure, which is as eccentric as it is touching, after a decade-long hiatus. A return carried by the desire, for these false “little gentlemen” of folk-rock song, to have fun. And, why not, to return the favor to those who will listen to them.
The Goyette brothers lived to the fullest on the Quebec music scene between 2006 and 2013, a period when the six musicians led by singer Simon Laganière — alias Mario Goyette — released three records in addition to performing regularly. The group has always walked the fine line between the serious and the playful, the comic and the poetic, leaving in its wake emotions where ambivalence and benevolence rhymed.
Ten years after Faithful, tenacious and brothers, here they are, plunged back into their world where brown jackets rub shoulders with the caps of the Optimist Club and the mustaches of champions. “Looks like I have a little vertigo!” says Simon Laganière, laughing, aware of the time that has passed. He launched a solo record, created a podcast with his real brother Laurent (the Sylvain Goyette of the group) and launched a short film (Miminenominated for the Canadian Screen Awards), but he’s still been drinking a lot of “cream soda” since 2013.
“It’s really Yannick Lambert-Brière, the guitarist of the Goyette Brothers, who found that we were living a little post-COVID moment where we were bored,” says Simon. He said to me: “You don’t have any tunes?” So I would swing my songs there, then he would do the arrangements. It became a kind of project where we did good. »
On these new songs, moreover, there is often a certain tender gaze, a certain solicitude, despite bad times or bad luck what the protagonists are going through — a tornado, a toxic friend, a poltergeist who doesn’t want to leave after a Ouija board tournament. Beyond the pun, the title of this new disc takes on even more meaning here: Prudence is Denise.
“In fact, often after the shows, we would joke: “Prudence is Denise, everyone.” [Dans le sens de] come back carefully on the road, like little gentlemen. We made each other laugh with that, but I realize that this project is a bit like this: “You, are you correct? And you ? OK, come on,’” explains the singer.
It’s really Yannick Lambert-Brière, the guitarist of the Goyette Brothers, who found that we were living a little post-COVID moment where we were bored. He said to me: “You don’t have any tunes?” So I would swing my songs there, then he would do the arrangements. It became a kind of project where we did good.
In line
The Goyette brothers did not aim, with these nine tracks (including three instrumental ones), to reinvent themselves, even though the idea of stability was dear to them. Prudence is Denise, “it’s an old chalet with the little stove that heats up,” says Simon Laganière. We know which plank of the gallery will crack, we know where on the tapestry the light will strike at noon. And basically, we are comfortable there, whether we are on our first visit or not.
Laganière points out that in the column of recurring things, in addition to the dusty tone of the guitars and the atmospheres, there is the presence of the singer of the Cowboys Fringants, Karl Tremblay. The latter, which was from the disk Dating of the Third Ageappears here on the title sea pontoon.
“It’s about the guy who crosses the sea with very modest means,” sums up Simon Laganière. All the same, it’s also a nice metaphor with what he’s going through, with what a lot of people are also going through, like: getting caught up in fairly insurmountable affairs with our little pontoon. It gives another swing to the tune, a nice depth, I think. »
The leader of the Goyette Brothers likes the energy that still and always carries Les Cowboys Fringants, “which continue to have projects, which remain luminous, not cynical”. This is an inspiration for his group, which intends to take more advantage of what can happen rather than living on often disappointed desires. “It’s very Buddhist, we have become Buddhists! said Laganière, laughing.
The group, sitting somewhere between Avec pas d’casque and Bleu Jeans Bleu, is well aware that they are no longer the darling of the month, and their ambitions are also to match. The active quest for success? Once upon a time perhaps, but not now, especially not at all costs. Hence the decision not to release physical albums of Prudence is Denise, Not yet, in any case. The false siblings – where, let’s remember, no one is really called Goyette, a bit like the Ramones – will see how these new pieces are received before moving forward. Be careful here too.
” Anyway, there is no longer a CD player in the tanks, emphasizes Simon Laganière. If we see that we are doing shows, we will do vinyl, but in the meantime, to compensate, we will do something useful”. That’s to say ? “Marinades. Probably pickles, eggs in vinegar, and you’ll get your download link with that. » Appetizing! Otherwise, what else? “I’m also doing a wooden vinyl. “How to stay unmoved?