Belle of Les Bois (Music)

*****.............."Belle Of Les Bois' music is genuinely beautiful. Drenched in drama and harmonies, it is the sound of the broken-hearted finding their voice and rising up again. Adorned simply and succinctly, it is music that breathes with life and passion and has the power to convert even the most staunch unbeliever to the truth of country-fuelled music."Chris Long, BBCManchester Online ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------The title Belle of Les Bois & The Semi Precious Gents is slightly misleading in that it’s mainly Catherine Marsden, who fronts this unit. Tonight the Semi Precious Gents are the people she has roped in after only just getting back from Idaho. She has Elena(vocals) plus Stu and a few others from the Medicine Bow and that’s more than ample to overcome a missing drummer. Catherine apologies in her soft, North American accent for possibly being jet lagged, but if she is, it doesn’t show. Her silky smooth voice immediately grabs the attention. It can cross from a seductive tone to threatening one in the space of an octave. When she delivers the line “I can drink you under the table” it’s put in such a manner there’s no point in trying to take her on. Ally the voice to the strident guitars, plus Elena’s vocal support and it’s a fine set. When someone opens with the line “ I may not bethe smartest girl you ever met”, I reckon they probably are.''---Ged Camera, BBC Manchester Online ...... .... .. .. .. .... .... ..... ..... .. . . .................... . .. ...... .. .. ....... .. . . .. ................Half English, half American, Belle of Les Bois is inspired by the two nations musical histories, with the echoing ambition of open spaces reverberating through her songs. (Switchflicker Records) ____________________________Belle of Les Bois...matchless chanteuse of dark country byways and creaking swing-bridges of the soul... --The Medicine Bow__________________________Lee Gosney of Broadminded had this to say about Belle of Les Bois and the Semi Precious Gents performance at Universal (@The Green Room, Manchester):Belle Of Les Bois And The Semi Precious Gents shifted styles with their curious blend of 21st century americana drenched in nostalgia. A sense of professionalism oozed from the assorted onstage rebels but really hit you the most was the amount of heart and soul you gained.. . . .www.broad-minded.com/universal.htm ____________________________________________Much of Belle (aka Catherine Marsden) of Les Bois' music captures the atmosphere of her upbringing in Boise, Idaho, USA, a small city nestled at the foot of snow topped mountains, filled with trees, bizarre urban myths, and dark histories. ______________________________Catherine spent many years living in Manchester, England, playing in several bands and performing/recording/collaborating with other artistes such as Julia Nagle-Adamson/Invisible Girl (ex What Noise, The Fall), Janet Wolstenholme (Ex Bandit Queen, The Present Occupier), Gabriel Minnikin (The Guthries, Gladeyes, The Earlies), The Medicine Bow, and Thee Moths. (See discography below). __________________________________Catherine returned to live in her hometown of Boise, Idaho in August 2008 and now performs with guitarist Sam Merrick (The Nymphs, Juan Fangio, Hillfolk Noir) and multi instrumentalist Tim Willis on percussion (Soft Gong, and most recently seen in Boise with The HiTops and as local star Steve Fulton's musical partner at various venues around town), and occasionally with Travis Ward (Hillfolk Noir).Catherine also provided guest backing vocals for Manchester country punk band The Medicine Bow (A Medicine Bow vinyl ep featuring Belle of Les Bois is due for release also in spring 2009).... ... .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . ... .. . ... .. . . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. .___________________ ____________________Discography _________________ 'Peahen' by Belle of Les Bois ('Sealed with a Loving Flick'/Switchflicker Records, produced by Spencer Marsden)________ 'Fun' by Invisible Girl ('Sealed with a Loving Flick'/Swithflicker Records, a collaboration with Julia Nagle-Adamson)________ 'Chips' by Janet Wolstenholme ('Sealed with a Loving Flick'/Switchflicker Records, Belle provided backing vocals)______ 'In Under a Minute' by Catface (a collaboration with Thee Moths, available on 7 inch vinyl, The Littlest Album 3)_________ 'Heartbreak' by The Medicine Bow (a cover version of The Dogs D'amour classic, available on limited edition compilation 'Their Hearts Caught Fire' cd)_____________________'For a Fool' (featuring Gabriel Minnikin on banjo, mandolin, harmonica and piano. Produced by Janet Wolstenholme, on Invisible Girl Records UK)_________________________________________________________ ________ Links www.myspace.com/belleoflesboismusic www.myspace.com/catface www.myspace.com/shambolicmajesties www.mylegendarygirlfriend.co.uk/littlest/ www.switchflicker.co.uk/listen/ _____________________________________________.. .. .. ... .. .. ... ..I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4