Les Hay Babies, Atlantic Canada’s esteemed three-piece all-girl rock group, are turning back the clock and throwing retro vibes with their latest album, Boite aux lettres. Based on old letters they found written by a woman named Jackie, the trio craft the story of this woman of the past through their lyrics and music.
The story goes that in 1965, Jackie packed her bags and left New Brunswick in search of bigger things in the grand city of Montreal, but still wrote home often to her mother in Moncton. The letters she wrote during those times were kept in a box and uncovered years later. Having learned through those letters about what day-to-day life was like for a 20-year-old woman during the 1960s and relating their own lives to Jackie and her personality, Les Hay Babies are paying homage to her and her life during those prime years.
Throwing back to that decade seems to come naturally for Les Hay Babies, though. The trio already has a well-established modern-yet-retro alternative/folk sound. The soft harmonies, background vocals and 60s folk rock-style guitar — which even borders on funky, at times — found in Boîte au lettres all fit seamlessly into their existing sound. Even the tracks “Boîte aux lettres” and “Entre deux montagnes,” which lean respectively into disco sounds and flutes reminiscent of Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson, don’t feel out of place either.
The vintage sounds lend well to the telling of Jackie’s story and help place listeners in her world throughout the album.
In “Fontaine à voeux,” we learn that Jackie is a strong woman who stands up for her worth in the world and relationships; in “Look At Me Now,” we see how she pushes boundaries and fights for her chance at success; and in “En Californie,” we get a sense for her need to continually aim higher as she moves on from Montreal to California.
We also find, tucked away within these narratives, some underlying harsh truths about what it was like to be a woman in the 60s. Jackie rejects those norms by stating that she doesn’t live to please any man and she can and will climb that corporate ladder.
But when the album is not focussing on Jackie herself, it centres on the letters’ recipient: Jackie’s mom.
“Entre deux montagnes,” “Same Old, Same Old” and “Boîte au lettres” all give listeners the mother’s perspective. They touch on how it was hard for her to grow older without her daughter nearby and how she would wait eagerly for each new letter from her daughter.
Les Hay Babies have not failed to bring us more creative, dance-worthy music that hits home in the hearts of Acadians and non-Acadian East Coasters alike.
(Tentative) Tour Dates:
28.03.20 – Sherbrooke, QC @ La Petite Boîte Noire
03.04.20 – La Sarre, QC @ Théâtre de Poche
04.04.20 – Val-d’Or, QC @ Salle Félix-Leclerc
09.04.20 – Lavaltrie, QC @ Centre culturel de la Chasse-Galerie
10.04.20 – Gatineau, QC @ Le Minotaure
11.04.20 – St-Hyacinthe, QC @ Le Zaricot
15.05.20 – Chibougamau, QC @ Bar Maxi M’Hom
23.05.20 – Rimouski, QC @ Coop Paradis
24.05.20 – Baie-Comeau, QC @ Espace Alcoa
17.06.20 – Montréal, QC @ Les FrancoFolies de Montréal (Club Soda)