Flore Laurentienne – ein Projekt des frankokanadischen Komponisten Mathieu David Gagnon – bringt im Oktober sein zweites Album unter dem schlichten Titel “Volume II” heraus, zwei der Songs sind bereits digital erhältlich. “Volume II”, das für Synthies und für Streicher und andere klassische Instrumente komponiert wurde, setzt sich inhaltlich mit den Flüssen der Provinz Quebec und der lokalen Botanik auseinander und ist einer filmischen Struktur nachempfunden, was den weiten Panoramen, die immer wieder Raum für quirlige Solo-Einlagen lassen, auch anzuhören ist. Das Album erscheint am 21. Oktober in den gängigen Formaten bei RVNG Intl. in Zusammenarbeit mit Costume Records.

“Flore Laurentienne is the vessel of Quebecan composer Mathieu David Gagnon. The project nests in the history of botanical writing as the namesake of an inventory documenting flora in the St. Lawrence Valley, the area where Gagnon was born and raised. The musical vision of Flore Laurentienne is illuminated by Johann Sebastian Bach, the contrapuntal master and one of Gagnon’s greatest inspirations. Having operated behind the scenes, working on other people’s projects over the years, 2019 saw the release of his debut solo works with Volume I, an innately ambitious project, imagined by Gagnon, recorded with a fifteen-piece string orchestra and an arsenal of early synthesizers, including the Minimoog Model D, the EMS Synthi and combo organs. The album saw high acclaim and was longlisted for the 2020 Polaris Music Prize as well as receiving many other nominations such as numerous Juno award nominations. Flore Laurentienne now returns with Volume II. Presenting another palette of rich orchestral sound, where changing forces of water inspire metaphorical markers that navigate passages of life and loss. In this project, Mathieu David Gagnon resumes his voyage into environment and emotion, drawing inspiration from the rivers and rugged wilderness of the composer’s native Quebec. In Volume II, Gagnon continues his expansion of classical composition archetypes to meet a new realm of sonic romanticism. Thematic conventions of wandering the pastoral sublime become altered into glimmering refractions, relaying the emotional and kinetic power of natural energies. Volume II forms an estuary where streams of auditory microcosm reach a horizon of dynamic contrast, and reflect the parallel tenors of nature and humankind. With this project drawing inspiration from the rivers of Quebec, a portion of the proceeds from the album will benefit The Saint-Laurent Action Fund, which promotes the conservation of ecosystems and the maintenance of uses of the St. Lawrence River and its Gulf by supporting projects for the preservation, enhancement and rehabilitation of the river, as well as projects for education and awareness of issues of the St. Lawrence River.” (RVNG Intl./Costume Records