Ariane Moffatt

When you hear a really well produced, intricately layered studio album, it's hard to imagine those tunes being played live. The fact is, technology has made it possible for a solo artist to sound like an entire band; for a quartet to sound like a symphony. And save for bringing an entire orchestra on tour, artists aren't always able to replicate their complex studio efforts in the live setting.

But on Ariane Moffatt's 2005 live DVD, "À la Station C," she proves that anything is possible. Over the course of the 2 hour show, Ari and her live band - guitarist Joseph Marchard, bassist J-F Lemieux, drummer Tony Albino, and keyboardist/programmer Francis Collard - flawlessly perform songs from her first album, Aquanaute - an album of boundless intricacy and production techniques. The group's effortless mesh of pop, trip-hop, and jazz provide an organic base for Moffatt's catchy, introspective tunes. Among the 16 tunes played are several new songs - including a cover of Gilles Vigneault's "Grand Cerf-Volant," with a poetry reading by bassist Lemieux over a musical interlude.

Not only is the musical performance on this DVD exceptional, but the cinematography is unparalleled. Warm shots and close-ups give a sense of intimacy to Moffatt's live show, with much focus being placed on the instruments as well as the musicians. Adding to the warmth is the band's stage setup, which features several well-placed rugs and a vibrant fish in a fishbowl atop Moffatt's grand piano (evidently the inspiration for Aquanaute).

Ariane Moffatt later released Le coeur dans la tête, her follow-up to Aquanaute, which received top reviews all over Québec. This second studio effort is as well-written and performed as its predecessor, but neither studio album can compare to the organic, intimate feel of Ari's live DVD.

Below are three samples from the show, in audio only: two of Moffatt's singles, "Hasard" and "Fracture du crâne," and "Sur ton parallèle," complete with an extended jazz fusion jam. If you dig the tunes, go out and pick up the DVD - the visual is well worth the money.