The Devil at Five is on a rampage today, presenting us with 
her Storm. Having been building up their repertoire of songs and lyrics since the release of their previous album, Stand up! (2019), the traditional quintet came together to present a collection of about ten new compositions that showcase their versatility and skill: alongside covers of traditional songs, festive tunes, and call-and-response songs, the album features instrumental pieces and folk ballads, each one more captivating than the last. Once again, with Storm...the five residents of Ripon show us what they do best: getting the party started, of course, but above all, bringing people together.
Having written and composed all the original songs and arranged the covers of traditional repertoire themselves, Les Cinq entrusted the production of this new album to Loïc Thériault (Valaire, Lily K.O.) and Daniel Lacoste (Robert Charlebois). This new album is a storm of fresh and updated ideas, a new direction in the band’s musical identity: retaining its roots and traditional essence, but now enriched by a blend of contemporary influences.
A CONTEMPORARY TRADITIONAL SONG
To offer original and relevant lyrics, *Tempête Le Diable à Cinq* drew inspiration from current events as well as from diverse realities that everyone can relate to. From tributes to Outaouais legends (Jos Montferrand in the song of the same name, and hockey icon Stéphane Richer in “Richer #44”), to the radiant renewal that follows the deepest solitude (“Tout seul dans la ville”), and odes to life itself (“Le dernier pétale”), Tempête’s original songs are by turns touching and serious, yet always imbued with a strong festive spirit. As for the pieces drawn from the traditional repertoire, the group has made a rich and precise selection to address resolutely contemporary topics such as the role of money in society (“Plus d’argent”). Also worth noting are the artists to whom the quintet pays homage, whether it’s Arc-en-Son with “Quand l’herbe est verte,” a song popularized by the Outaouais-based group, or Jean-Paul Guimond with “Ma Nanon,” an unreleased piece drawn from the repertoire of this veritable living library.
A MUSICAL STORM
Musically, the group presents *Tempête*, a richly textured album where melodies and arrangements remain rooted in the traditional style, yet are infused with more contemporary elements such as pop and rock, resulting in a highly diverse sound. Catchy, energetic, and accessible, this new album is a laboratory of exploration, with tracks like “Suite Labelle” and “Plus d’amis” where the Rhodes and soaring melodies evoke the best of progressive rock. While the opening tracks come in like a whirlwind and pull us straight into the band’s world, “Le dernier pétale” emerges right in the heart of the album, like the eye of the storm, offering a moment of calm. The second half of the album picks up the pace again with fiery traditional tracks (“Suite Labelle”) and heavier ones (“Ma Nanon”), before ending on a joyful note after the storm has passed, with “Quand l’herbe est verte,” a festive rendition with the feel of a late-night party where the drinks have been flowing.
A CONTEMPORARY TRADITIONAL SONG
To offer original and relevant lyrics, *Tempête Le Diable à Cinq* drew inspiration from current events as well as from diverse realities that everyone can relate to. From tributes to Outaouais legends (Jos Montferrand in the song of the same name, and hockey icon Stéphane Richer in “Richer #44”), to the radiant renewal that follows the deepest solitude (“Tout seul dans la ville”), and odes to life itself (“Le dernier pétale”), Tempête’s original songs are by turns touching and serious, yet always imbued with a strong festive spirit. As for the pieces drawn from the traditional repertoire, the group has made a rich and precise selection to address resolutely contemporary topics such as the role of money in society (“Plus d’argent”). Also worth noting are the artists to whom the quintet pays homage, whether it’s Arc-en-Son with “Quand l’herbe est verte,” a song popularized by the Outaouais-based group, or Jean-Paul Guimond with “Ma Nanon,” an unreleased piece drawn from the repertoire of this veritable living library.
A MUSICAL STORM
Musically, the group presents *Tempête*, a richly textured album where melodies and arrangements remain rooted in the traditional style, yet are infused with more contemporary elements such as pop and rock, resulting in a highly diverse sound. Catchy, energetic, and accessible, this new album is a laboratory of exploration, with tracks like “Suite Labelle” and “Plus d’amis” where the Rhodes and soaring melodies evoke the best of progressive rock. While the opening tracks come in like a whirlwind and pull us straight into the band’s world, “Le dernier pétale” emerges right in the heart of the album, like the eye of the storm, offering a moment of calm. The second half of the album picks up the pace again with fiery traditional tracks (“Suite Labelle”) and heavier ones (“Ma Nanon”), before ending on a joyful note after the storm has passed, with “Quand l’herbe est verte,” a festive rendition with the feel of a late-night party where the drinks have been flowing.
