Not your usual string quartet. The line up - cello, viola and 2 fiddles - might be the same, but the heritage, and the music, is far from Mozart. Drawing on folk music from various Canadian and American traditions, as well as Ireland and other sources, mixed with blues and country influences, and The Fretless - 3 Canadians and a cellist from Vermont - have developed a strong sense of their own identity and a unique sound.
Much of the material is traditional, some self penned, but the arrangements are very much non-trad, and often experimental, with a resulting freshness that removes any sense of predictability. The viola gets passed from Canadian to Canadian between numbers, all four instruments and musicians take their turn delivering melody, harmonies and rhythm, and all four take turns to introduce the numbers and provide some laughs. It's a well balanced set, a mix of tempos and styles throughout, with some beautifully melancholic slower pieces, and foot tapping dance music to raise the spirits. The cries of encore were genuine enough because this is a band that definitely knows how to collect with their audience.
A highly recommended live experience.
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