Item's that I have collected so far. Please note that each of them have produced a CD of their own. I've tried to list as much info as I can on each CD
Kashtin by Kashtin
1. E Uassiuian / My Childhood
2. Kashtin / Tornado
3. E Peikussian / Solitude
4. Pakuakumit /
5. Shashish / A Long Time Ago
6. Apu Tshekuan / It Doesn't Matter
7. Tshinanu / What We Are
8. Tipatshimun / The Devil's Song
9. Uitshi / Help Me
10. Ashtam Nituapam / Come Find Me
11. Shteteian / Departure
12. Nitanish (N'Teish) / My Daughter
In the CD jacket, Florent Vollant and Claude McKenzie explain that their native culture "is often perceived as a single entity, without distinction as to nations, languages and customs." Through their music, they seek to "tear down the walls of indifference" by captivating the listeners with the difference.
This is how they describe some of their songs:
E UASSIUAN
"This is a song about childhood and its ending with a sudden awareness of the world around. To us, it means discovering the difference between life on the Reservation and life on the "outside".
E UASSIUIAN is also about the desire to continue living an existence filled with laughter, enjoyment and wonder. A child is born a GIANT and becomes smaller as he grows up.
Lyrics and music: Claude McKenzie
Akuta Tuta by Kashtin
Akuta Tuta [take care]
If I’m no linger a child of the Earth,
I no linger know where I come from.
I no linger recognize my brothers…
Self-awareness is respecting
And caring for oneself
And protecting out Mother Earth.
The actual words are:
Akua tuta, akua tuta
Akua tuta tshekuan kaminekuin
Akua tuta
Naketuenta kiei tshin tshekuan
kanetaunekuin
Hey, hey, hey
Akua tuta
Akua tuta tshekuan kakunuene mekuin ?
Akua tuta
Naketuanta kiei tshin tshekuan kauitshikuin
Hey, hey, hey
Akua tshe tessinnu
Akua tuta nete kiei tshin kanetaunekuin
Akua tshe mushumenut
Akua kiei tshukumenut eshei
Akua tshe tuassimenut
Akua kiei tsheshimenut eshei
Hey, hey, hey
Innu by Kashtin
Overture
Nikanish [My people]
They walked like the caribou
They followed the caribou’s path
And somewhere within ourselves
We are proud to be of those
Who walked for survival
Nekashtuamani! [surprise / anguish]
When Tshiko turns on the lights
And you stand before us
And we stand before you
Nekashtuamani!
What shall we do?
Go on Tshiko light up … light up
Nekashtuamani!
Nte Tshitshuat [your place]
You place was fine
Your place was beautiful
I truly felt at home
But everything changed
And I had to fly away
Apu Tshekuan Nikan’kuian [nothing can stop me]
When winter was over and it was time
To return to the sea, my people ran
In the portages.
When the time comes for me to go
Nothing can stop me
I will gnaw into my paw if I must
But I shall excape the trap
Harricana [long road]
Then I will no longer be afraid of fear
Harricana, I shall see, I shall understand
Harricana, I shall gain
Harricana, my freedom
Son of the sun
Thank you, Willie Dunn, the dark-skinned musician
Protaging his drums and guitar
Thank you, Willie, the Micmac Indian
You’ve reminded us of who we are
Son of the sun
Daughter of the light
Children of the earth
Tshinuau [all of you]
All of you who come to see us, hear us
And dance to our music
We wish to give you our best
We wish you happiness
We love you
Apu min’tan [leave me alone!]
Will you stop thinking for me
Will you stop trying to change me
Will you stop telling me what to do
Leave me alone!
*****
Quebecois band Kashtin play if not invent wall-of-sound First Nations folk-rock, biting into a '70s classic rock niche but skirting period cliches via a traditional music undercurrent. Hand drums, rattles, and other expected embellishments are used sparingly as singer/songwriters Florent Vollant and Claude McKenzie embed native motifs deep into songs that are richly orchestrated in a guitar-based prog-rock mode. Shifting layers of fuzz guitar, acoustic instruments and electronic ambiance are subordinated to Vollant and McKenzie's possessive vocals even when wolf howls and a snowmobile rev up the opening bars of the Algonquin-language "Harricana" (Long Road) or when the north-of-60 montage "Overture" bleeds into the mid-tempo "Nikanish." Strong songwriting and performances meet their match in this disc of old-fashioned studio craft at top form.
-- Bob Tarte, All Music Guide
Eternal Drum
by Kashtin
In this soulful video, native rock stars Kashtin use the traditional drum as a link between nations from across Canada. Kashkin in concert, featuring the music from the double platinum album "Kashkin" and the platinum album "Innu". Kashkin shares memories and hopes with native people from all parts of Canada. If I track it down, I'll let you know
VHS 60 minutes.
Innu Town by Mckinsie
Innu Town / An Innu in the city
Nemenuentenan / Happy to see you
Ekuen Pua / So be it
Ueshkett / A long time ago
I got a taste of tears
Mamu / Together
Apu metateman /
Shash / Already
Nte Tshemun / It's raining
Nin e shatshitan / Me, the one who loves you
Dans les bras de la musique
Shashish Ketak / Already far
******
Innu Town
McKenzie
by Alphonse Leong
This solo effort by Kashtin's Claude McKenzie reminds me a lot of...well, Kashtin. The Buddhist chant-like vocals are there, and so are the understated rhythms and fluid Innu phrasing. Not speaking the language, I don't have a complete response to the songs, but the melodies are pleasant enough and the production by Guy Trepanier is tight, while still allowing an earthy quality to emerge. Down to earth and pleasant are the key ideas here (in the liner notes, McKenzie even politely encourages us to "just press FF" if you don't like a song!). Tunes range from moody mythology ("Ueshkett") to open desire ("Shash").
If you're into Kashtin, chances are you'll like this stuff, too. For me, this disc is like Italian opera; I appreciate the genuine musicality and the beauty of the language, but I'm just not totally swept away.
Taken from: http://www.dropd.com/issue/47/CD/McKenzie/
Translation from the French provided by "M.A."
Review by Jacques Thibault for Club-Culture.
Florent Vollant -
NIPAIAMIANAN
Florent Vollant sings about Christmas in Innu. He overcame a big challenge because he wanted to share with this album the pride of the Innu people and a respect for differences, and in doing so abolish the barrier of ignorance and intolerance between native and non-native peoples. In this regard, the album was a total success. During the last two years, Florent Vollant returned to his birthplace, Maliotenan, to seek additional resources. He did this at the same time as his friends: Richard Séguin, Zachaire Richard, Luce Dufault, Ray Bonneville et Lucien Gabriel Jourdain, who all participated in the recording of this album by singing in Innu for Nipaiamianan (O Holy Night). On the disk, we find five classic songs of Christmas: Silent Night, Angels We Have Heard on High, Adeste Fideles, Venez divin Messie (traditional French-Canadian carol-- possibly Come All Ye Faithful), and O Holy Night. The album also lets us discover spiritual chants inspired by Innu tales. There is also a musical guitar piece (picking) which is utterly charming. Florent Vollant has reached a stunning result and has been able to give colour to his music as well as a great dose of extraordinary originality. A really magical product! The music, as well as its arrangements, is simple and soft, and in this fashion brings an ambiance which is intimate and fraternal. The producers are Toby Gendron, Réjean Bouchard, and Florent Vollant.
A unique and original disk for the holiday season.
Jacques Thibault
Club-Culture
The original article can be found at: http://club-culture.com/poprock/vollant.htm
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