One can look forward to a voyage, or one can think about what one is leaving. The cycle of songs on L’embarquée, the self-released album by duo Marianne Trudel (piano) and Lévy Bourbonnais (harmonicas) appears to view the journey from the latter perspective, for the mood is more melancholy than hopeful in its lyricism. As for the playing, a piano and harmonica could easily get in one another’s way, but Trudel avoids this by focusing on melody and intelligent use of musical space, leaving room for Bourbonnais’ musings, with an interesting balance between the sonorities of the harmonica and the sharper pointillism of Trudel.

★★★