Flying Hórses is a journey through childhood memories of dusty dollhouses and wide eyed innocence.
“A project that gained steam in both Ottawa and Montreal’s local scenes over the better part of 2014, Flying Hórses’ music is emotionally rooted in the memories and innocence of childhood. Ruminating on these thoughts and feelings had the crowd lost in reflection as the duo of multi-instrumentalist Jade Bergeron and cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne celebrated the release of their debut album Tölt, enrapturing the audience with their incredibly cinematic, evocative compositions.”
– Exclaim!
“To create an immersive sonic wonderland that seems so rich and illuminated with just two musicians might seem like a daunting challenge, but Jade & Raphael handle it with aplomb, serving up thoughtful compositions and imaginative arrangements on a menagerie of instruments performed with a perfect balance between tenderness and conviction. Add the impeccable musicianship and richly resonant recording and it is enough to win over any listener.”
– Stationary Travels
“There’s a childlike innocence and wonder that you get when you listen to their music. It’s expansive, beautiful and full of curious moments.”
– Ride The Tempo
“Bergeron’s array of instruments – piano, wurlitzer, celesta, glockenspiel, bells, chimes, and music boxes – is commonly associated with childlike innocence, a connection that the duo mentions twice in its press release. This specific set of timbres is identified with some of Iceland’s biggest sonic successes: Björk, Sigur Rós, múm, amína / amiina. Of these, the latter is the closest in sound. Flying Hórses claims to take a dark turn later in the album, delving into the low tones of Weinroth-Browne’s cello, but the shadows are not intimidating; the duo is far too chipper for that. Instead, the album comes across as a slow, safe aging: nothing will damage, nothing will abrade. While not “totally unique” as touted, Tölt is a welcome entry into the canon of fairy tale scoring.”
– A Closer Listen