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BIDAIA IN
THE PRESS
July 2003
"The roots are deep and the instruments acoustic, but make no mistake :
this is a contemporary band with energy, drive and wide-ranging
curiosity. Bidaia translates as 'voyage' and it definitely offers a
unique travel experience."
June 2003
"Instrumental and vocal mastery makes this debut recording by Basque
quartet Bidaia not only infectiously, but irresistibly, joyous. The
screeching duo of Caroline Phillips' zanfona, or hurdy-gurdy, and Mixel
Ducau's alboka, a traditional Basque double-reed instrument featuring
dual fingering tubes, adds a tonal edge similar to that of the bombarde
and biniou found up the coast in Brittany. Both also contribute fine
vocals, Phillips a sweet, intense alto, Ducau an expansive, celebratory
tenor. Bidaia transcends even this high potential by organizing "Oihan"
into a series of suites, punctuated by standalone tracks. ...My only
reservation about Oihan is that I might not be able to get it off my
player before the next Bidaia record is released." - Jim Foley
June 2003
"An innovative, all-acoustic ensemble from Basque Spain offers a unique
and creative vision for both their local roots and the greater world
beyond. It's a highly modal experience, driven primarily by traditional
Basque instruments - alboka, ttun-ttun (an instrument similar to a
zither, but played with a stick as a percussive effect), combined with
acoustic guitar, piano, hurdy-gurdy, Moroccan darbouka & Andalusian
cajon. The almost surreal vocals of Caroline Phillips are a central, if
not solely defining, part of the sound, as her soaring voice is merged
into a wall-of-sound created by the instruments in a sharp and stunning
series of arrangements."
July 2003 (Spain)
'Oihan' surprises by its ability to re-invent Basque folk music with
atypical instrumentation (Andalousian cajon, Maroccan Darbouka,
Hurdy-Gurdy) with the spirit of Ry Cooder (the guitar work, the blues
and swing of the music) and will go much farther than [ the Basque
artists ] Junkera, Alboka or Oskorri. |
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