So your French is not that good and you desperately want to know the meaning of the word “Batinses” (ba-tan-se) in english. OK, but remember you asked for it! It’s a Québécois word derived from "baptême" which means baptism. It’s a kind of soft curse (it’s not a f… word!) that can help you get through the hard times of life… or that describes that little jerk who dared to play a trick on you!

Formed in 1994, Les Batinses hail from the region of Quebec, from Quebec city to be exact. While attending the local university, the members started to do some serious research and investigation into the Quebecois folkloric archives, finally picking up acoustic instruments themselves. Now, this fresh-faced sextet plays world music made in Quebec, seen as a bold exploration of the yearning for roots. It incorporates old and new, and reaches out to embrace music from anywhere and everywhere, marrying old-style folk with kick-ass acoustics. It has been called “funklore” and “trashditional”, but call it what you will because it will make you dance, it could even make you slam!

With traditional ballads, reels, polkas, Balkanic eruptions, salsa, rumba, even some prog thrown in for good measure, they offer a fascinating take on Quebec’s musical tradition, blending it with all kinds of influences: Coltranian ska (it does exist!), Celtic funk, woodsy hip-hop (!), even stoner-rock! If you request drinking songs with a punkish attitude, they have them! But the real star of the show, is the music! All of the band’s swinging strengths are then evident. There is a natural musicality to theses people that allows them to cross boundaries without sounding like poseurs, wannabes, or knockoffs.

A highly adaptable French-Canadian outfit, Les Batinses did the opening show of the 1999 Québec City International Summer Festival, opened for La Bottine Souriante, performed at one Snow Jam, at a certain Winter Carnival – it’s a band for all seasons, indeed! T ake-no-prisoners touring brought them everywhere from the bonnie hills of Scotland, down to England, France and Spain and on to their neighbour, the U.S. Live, you will understand why their influences range from Nina Hagen to Hedningarna. If you sit in the front row, a human tidal wave could hit you at the sound of the first chords. It’s fun, madness and, possibly, a true therapy. Les Batinses build highly textural arrangements for their sometimes dark and dramatic, sometimes hilarious and surrealist songs.

The best band you never heard? Not quite yet, but Les Batinses are working on it. Choice grade, Canada fancy, really! They record on Mille-Pattes Productions, the same label as La Bottine Souriante, André Marchand and Michel Faubert.

So, it ain’t no disco, for sure. In performance, they have the energy of The Pogues in their glory days. Les Batinses, folk’n’hell? You bet!

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Official site:
www.lesbatinses.com