Cat No KMCD181

A beautiful collection of historical songs, originally sung by female workers in Breton sardine canning factories - between 1860 and 1960. The singers, Marie-Aline Lagadic and her daughter Klervi Riviere, have a sweet, evocative unison to their voices - strongly reminiscent of Kate & Anna McGarrigle. They were inspired to research & record this project following the 2004 French TV film “Penn Sardines” which was a drama documentary, directed by Marc Riviere, based on the strikes by sardine packers in Douarnenez in 1924, and at Lesconil and Guilvinec in 1926. Marie-Aline Lagadic’s grandmother and aunt had worked in these factories - the owners of which had originally encouraged their workers to sing as they packed, to encourage productivity - but by the 1920’s such ‘work songs’ were becoming a outlet for political & social unrest against their pay & conditions. The lead singers are sometimes solo or a cappella, but mainly are backed by accordeonist Alain Trévarin and pianist François Gouzien, who play with a finely judged combination of virtuosity and direct simplicity. There is even a discernable influence of the ‘jazz age’ in some of the songs of this period.