Welcome back Topette!!  Our favourite Anglo-French folk ‘supergroup’ are here again and they’ve brought something very special along with them.  New album, Tazon is an eclectic mix of dance tunes, all performed with that unique Topette!! zip.

A REGENERATION

We like Topette!!  Our senses never fail to tingle when they knock upon our door with another new album tucked under their collective arm and, with Tazon – the band’s fifth album, Topette!! have come up with something very special. 

Tazon marks something of a regeneration for Topette!!  There’s been a bit a shakeup in the ranks since Topette!! last graced these pages, back in January 2024 with their barnstorming live album, ON – Live at the Jam Jar.  Propulsive bodhran player, Tania Buisse has moved on to pastures new and her place has been taken by percussionist Laurence Hunt.  The Topette!! sound is new – but it’s no less explosive!

Tazon, the title of the new album, is derived from the local dialect of Berry, an historic province of central France.  It’s a slang term for a partygoer; the type who announces at 10pm that they’re about to leave, yet are still around, mopping up the remaining dregs, when the milkman arrives the next morning.  Believe me, the 14 sets of tunes that comprise Tazon are exactly the kind of stuff guaranteed to encourage such behaviour!

AN ECLECTIC MIX

The album is an eclectic mix of traditional and recently-composed tunes, all performed with the signature Topette!! éclat.  Alongside new boy Laurence, fiddler James Delarre and accordionist Andy Cutting sparkle as brightly as ever, bassist Barn Stradling provides his signature rich, resonant foundation and Julien Cartonnet tops everything off with bagpipes and banjo.  Sometimes played at the same time – but we’ll come back to that…

It’s a set of bourées d’ambre that gets Tazon underway, and the sound is full-on from the very first bars.  Julien’s pipes (literally) call the tune, whilst Barn’s punchy bass looks after everything below waist-height in a breezy, breathtaking opening number.  And it’s Barn’s bass that hits the groove first for Vers Mon Étoile/Ma Tante S’Appelle Christian, a pair of Schottisches.  Fiddler James and accordionist Andy engage tightly with each other in what could be construed as a fight to the death.  “May contain excessive funk,” warn the sleevenotes – and they’ve got a point, as Laurence’s sharp drumbeat invokes compulsive tapping of the feet.

THE SPARKS FLY

It’s waltzes next!  Valzer dei Disertori (The Deserter’s Waltz) has a haunting familiarity which is given a weary, eerie edge by the tone of Julien’s pipes.  Laurence and Barn provide a dark, ominous foundation, as the deserters slink along, desperate to avoid detection.  The mood lifts for the Finnish Metsäkukka (Woodland Flowers) and, if the percussion catches your attention, that’s because Laurence is playing his drum with his hands with little shakers attached to his fingers.

Du Moulin Jenot/La Chute sees a traditional French polka bolted to a recent Sebastien Égleron composition.  It’s fast, and it’s bright.  Julien supplies the melody on his banjo as Barn and Laurence mesh delightfully on the bewildering rhythm.  Andy and James join the fun, and the sparks really do fly!  And it’s Andy’s accordion that takes the lead for the jigs, Waiting for Janet/Cavers of Kirkudbright, although James’s fiddle is almost as quick off the mark.  The Scottish imagery is vivid, especially when Julien chips in with his pipes.  Julien also joins in on banjo, and the band are still trying to figure out how he’s going to manage to do that when they play the tunes live!

SHAKING THE FOUNDATIONS

James’s rich, fluent violin takes over for Mahogany Whale/Bayoyo, a couple of beautiful, atmospheric mazurkas.  Barn’s bass is sold and resonant and, when Julien’s pipes come in for Bayoyo, there’s no loss of fluency or majesty, whatsoever. 

Written as a tribute to Barn’s father, Rod Stradling – who, sadly, passed away just before Christmas – Ra Strà per Rod is a bright, warming Schottisch, with banjo and accordion combining nicely over Laurence’s military drumbeat.  The tune segues into Harling Drove, a stirring tune from James, which he plays beautifully, with solid assistance from Julien’s banjo.

Barn’s bass shakes the foundations as the dramatic, stately JB – a two-time bourée – gets underway.  Pipes and accordion rouse the royal spirits as the intensity builds for J’Entends la Caille and, if you happen to be dancing, this is the point at which you’ll start to whirl; uncontrollably.  The waltz tune, L’Abbaye, is one of Julien’s and it’s another that will encourage dancers to abandon their inhibitions.  Pipes and accordion surge forward relentlessly, before the smoothness of L’Abbaye meets the rougher seas of Andy’s Harry Lane.

TIME TO ROCK

It’s not often that those of a rocky disposition will find instant attraction in a pair of two-time bourées, but Bacon Strips/One of Two will, I reckon, have that effect.  The bass and drums are at full-force as Andy, Julien and James all take a turn in the spotlight – and I particularly love the twangy sound of Julien’s banjo.

Apparently, Barn was inspired to come up with the interesting intro to À Bastien/Las Mariés – a set of bal limousines – by his memories of 1970s children’s TV music.  But the intro is soon forgotten as the band get down to a pair of wild, wonderful, non-stop tunes.  Julien slows the pace for L’Ours, a respectful, mournful mazurka that he wrote for a departed friend.  He plays his pipes with deep conviction, James’s violin combines wonderfully and the tune is given depth by Barn’s bass.  There’s a short accordion interlude, then the sun seems to rise as Julien’s pipes lead the way into The Acharavi.  The mood brightens, almost visibly, and the band fall into line with happy abandon.

AN EMPHATIC ENDING

Boe’s Dub, an intriguing blend of a Schottische and dub reggae, was written by James in honour of Bristol, Topette!!’s UK base.  Barn and Laurence dominate as they supply the dub rhythm and the band rise up in the background.  It’s a thoroughly imaginative arrangement – and it’s a showstopper, if ever I heard one!

And, to close this excellent album, Topette!! have selected a gavotte de L’Aven arrangement of a Finnish folk song.  Why not?  Peltonimen Hintriikan Surmarssi is another stately tune, with Julien’s pensive pipes backed by rolls of Laurence’s drums.  The pipes build slowly – in volume, in number and in intensity – as if to accompany a one-way march into eternal darkness.  It’s an emphatic way to say: “Hasta la Vista.”

Get in the Topette!! mood – watch the band perform Pot Neuve/De La Flamme live at Sidmouth Folk Festival in 2023 – below:

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