The sister of Montréal saxophonist Jean Derome, Nathalie Derome has been working as a performing artist for many years before this album, her first, came out. Les 4 ronds sont allumés: Chansons parodisiaques (“All four burners are on: Parodise Songs”) documents a live show she performed throughout the second half of 1999. Derome is a storyteller, speaking and singing texts that are funny, subtle and poetic but also often very “Québécois,” both because of the language and the references used. Lyrics are included in the booklet, but will be of little use to anyone not accustomed to Québec slang. Her voice is not really beautiful (it recalls Joane Hétu’s, although less exploratory), but it’s captivating enough. Musical accompaniment is provides by two Ambiances Magnétiques regulars, keyboardist Guillaume Dostaler and guitarist René Lussier. The interplay between performer and musicians is interesting and one wonders at times who leads who, but for the non-francophone, Derome’s voice can be perceived as disruptive when listening to the background music. It must have been more engaging live.