La Nouba

1	Once Upon A Time 6:54
2	A Tale 4:18
3	Porte 2:53
4	La Nouba 2:56
5	Distorted 6:35
6	Liama 4:23
7	Queens 6:57
8	À La Lune 6:11
9	Rêve Rouge 2:48
10	Urban 4:54
11	Propel 1:17
12	Jardin Chinois 3:37

Barnes & Noble

LA NOUBA -- the party -- is the soundtrack for the Disney World show by the surrealistic circus troupe Cirque du Soleil. No dancing elephants or yards of sequined fabric for this group; they have one foot firmly planted in 19th-century European acrobatics, another foot in the hipness of the streets, and a third foot in fantasyland. The colorful liner notes offer stunning images of the troupe's stylized costumes, makeup, and poses. Unfortunately, the notes don't recount the narrative of the show, but the music practically dances from the speakers regardless. The angelic grace of Dessy Di Lauro's vocalise in "Liama" seems to float and stretch, while the gutsy horns and staccato rhythm section of "Queens" bring acrobats tumbling forth from the speakers. "Urban" features the harsh electronic and mechanical sounds of the city and then shifts to a cadence that is the essence of cool. The music box quality that starts off "A La Luna" turns into a grotesque parody of circus music, which then becomes a mysterious accordion-driven chanson from the decadent Left Bank. Benoit Jutras is the composer and bandleader of this innovative and stylish production. Carol Wright

All Music Guide

Cirque Du Soleil's La Nouba combines the lively, expressive feel of the circus with modern, new age-inspired rhythms and arrangements. Composer Benoit Jutras fuses angelic vocals and electronics with traditional instruments like trumpet, guitar, violin, and saxophone for a timeless and slightly surreal result. Heather Phares