Jour 1596, the duo’s second LP, marks the artistic evolution of Hildegard. Composed during yearly week-long retreats in the snowy seclusion of rural Québec, this album represents a significant departure from the spontaneous creation of their debut. While their first album emerged over just eight days, Jour 1596 was meticulously crafted over 1596 days, grappling with the challenges and expectations of following up their first effort.
This journey, though at times formidable, became a celebration of the limitless joy and deep friendship between Ouri and Helena. For the first time, Hildegard invited collaborators into their creative process, adding new textures and layers to their sound. "Le Jardin la Nuit," for instance, features an arrangement of an improvisation by Zach Frampton on piano and Christopher Edmondson on saxophone, while "Pour Your Heart Out" showcases Phil Melanson on drums. The album’s opener, "Bach in Town," is propelled by Benja's dream pop guitar work, adding a gossamer element to the track's ambivalent exploration of a past relationship – to reconnect or let it drift?
The album also moves towards brighter, jazz-inspired arrangements, a notable shift from the darker electronic aesthetic of their previous work. This evolution is particularly evident in tracks like "Duke," where the earnest and wise instrumental improvisations are underscored by a sample of Duke Ellington, a sly nod to the jazz legend. "Beverly," on the other hand, draws inspiration from a talk Ouri heard some years ago by the visionary Beverly Glenn-Copeland, imbuing the track with a nuanced reflection on the ebbs and flows of artistic inspiration.
Jour 1596 stands as a testament to Hildegard’s expanding soundscape, where the resilience of friendship, the joy of collaboration, and the inspiration drawn from musical legends and personal experiences resonate in each track, guiding listeners from a contemplative, reflective mood into a lighter one.