REVIEW: LES RAMONEURS DE MENHIRS - "Amzer an dispac'h"

Amzer an dispac’h ! (DMDH-03 / FZM-033), release date: April 2010
Running time: 50’39 – 11 Tracks

“Allez, allez les Mohicans de Paris (…) Allez les Redskins, les Keupons, les Totos!, (…) Allez les Iroquois du Macadam! “

Bérurier Noir “Nuit Apache”, from “Abracadaboum” (1987)

Bérurier Noir, from Paris, was the main French Keupon (punk) band. François, Loran and Dédé (in fact, a drum machine) were the kings of the French punk scene between 1984 and 1989. And they were the first band to record a proto-Celtic punk track in France. It was “Vive le Feu”, a song included in their EP “Joyeux Merdier” in which Éric Gorce (biniou, bagpipes from Brittany) and Jean Pierre Beauvais (bombarde) guested.

2007: No Bérurier Noir, Mohicans from Paris or Iroquois from the asphalt. In 2007 the Mohawks came from Brittany. Loran (guitar ex-Bérurier Noir) and Maurice Joanno (singer from Vannes) met the “sonneurs” Éric Gorce (bombarde) and Richard Bevillon (biniou) and recorded “Dans an diaoul”, an excellent album that blended the Celtic music from Brittany with the Bérurier Noir keupon rock. Real Celtic punk, but not your classic Paddypunk sound. In fact, it was not music from Irish/Scottish origin with a punk edge, but Celtic folk music from Brittany played by breton punks. And, of course, “Vive le Feu” was recorded again.

Three years have gone by and we were wondering if Les Ramoneurs de Menhirs were only a one-album band. However, the Breton band has come back with their sophomore release, “Amzer an dispac’h”. Ok, you are wondering if it is better than “Dans an Diaoul”. What can I say? Which album do you prefer, “Ramones” or “Leave Home”? The album is awesome, Loran’s guitar and the traditional singing and traditional instruments are as good as one could expect. And there are plenty of guests too.

My favourite tracks are “La Blanche Hermine”, the un-official Breton anthem written by Gilles Servat at the beginning of the 70’s, “Menez Unan”, “Marijanig” (a song about cannabis liberalization featuring the Mangeuses d’Oreilles) and the final track, “Breizhistans” (As it is said at the band’s website, the message is clear: Sarkozy and Monsanto OUT!)

Other tracks that stand out are “Oy, Oy, Oy”, “If the Kids are United” (Sham 69 cover) "Ya'at'eeh" (featuring the Navajo band Blackfire) and “Auschwitz Planète” (Tromatism cover featuring Niko, from the band Tagada Jones)

So, forget your prejudices against songs sung in foreign languages and against Celtic punk bands that don’t try to be the next Dropkick Murphys and listen to “Amzer and dispac’h”. I wish that The Chieftains decided to record another album about the music from Brittany. I’m sure that the opening track would feature Les Ramoneurs de Menhirs!!!

Tracklist:

01. Unnek Gwezh 5:20
02. Oy ! Oy ! Oy ! 3:57
03. La Blanche Hermine 5:06
04. Menez Unan 4:50
05. Tamm Kreiz 2:38
06. Menez Daou 5.09
07. If the Kids ar United 2:58
08. Marijanig 7:5:20
09. Ya’at’eeh 7:05
10. Auschwitz planète 2:51
11. Breizhistañs 5.25

www.ramoneursdemenhirs.fr

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Ramoneurs_de_menhirs

www.myspace.com/lesramoneursmenhirs (un-official)

Click here to buy the album



Review by Kinksmarkham
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