Kate & Anna McGarrigle Heartbeats Accelerating CD

After a seven year absence from the recording scene (although they did continue to perform), Kate & Anna McGarrigle returned with HEARTBEATS ACCELERATING. Recorded in their home base of Montreal with their usual array of accompanists, it's perhaps their most contemporary-sounding work, production-wise. A song like Kate's "Mother Mother" is unmistakably based in the McGarrigle sisters's rich heritage, yet the track comfortably accepts up-to-date flourishes like drum programming and synthesized bass (alongside accordion and acoustic guitars). Their earlier attempt at "modernizing" resulted in the unsuccessful (critically and commercially) PRONTO MONTO--their only album to not be reissued on CD. This time they seem driven by real and internal desires to embrace all of these sounds, rather than by pressures to fit into the marketplace in a predictable manner. The use of various technologies and electronics never overwhelms the outstanding songs; HEARTBEATS ACCELERATING is another high caliber work from these Canadian sisters.

Or. Release '90, their first one in eight years , adopting a more new-age sound, with extensive synthesizer programming. The sound may be lush and modern, but the sentiments are still deeply felt and the observations remain laser-sharp.

Recorded at Studio Nomade, Montreal, Quebec.

Personnel: Kate McGarrigle (vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo, accordion, piano, background vocals); Pierre Marchand (vocals, accordion, keyboards, synthesizer, programming); Anna McGarrigle (vocals, organ, keyboards, drums); Rufus Wainwright (vocals); Bill Dillon (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, violin); Michael Breen (guitar, 12-string guitar); Jason Lang, Richard Mischook (guitar); Pat Donaldson (electric guitar, bass guitar); Joel Zikin, Joel Zifkin (violin); Michel Dupirre (accordion, percussion, drum programming); Mark Langis (fretless bass); Yves Gigon (drums, percussion); Michel Dupire (percussion).

Audio Mixer: Pierre Marchand.

Recording information: Studio Nomade, Montreal, Canada.

Editor: Michael Drapeau.

Photographer: Just Loomis.

Unknown Contributor Role: Alain Lamontagne.

Personnel: Kate McGarrigle (vocals, guitar, banjo, accordion, piano); Anna McGarrigle (vocals, piano, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards, percussion); Jason Lang, Bill Dillon (guitar, violin); Richard Mischook, Michael Breen (guitar); Joel Zifkin (violin); Pierre Marchand (accordion, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards, drum programming, synthesized bass, background vocals); Norman Barsalo, Marc Langis, Daniel Gigon (bass); Yves Gigon (drums, percussion); Alain Lamontagne (percussion); Rufus Wainwright (background vocals).

Rolling Stone (11/15/90) - 3.5 Stars - Very Good Plus
New York Times (Publisher) (11/18/90) - "..the sisters have made a bold and successful acknowledgment of contemporary developments by introducing computerized elements into their music, which is at once gripping and bleak.."