Vol. I

For most avid users of the Internet, Angine de Poitrine seemed to beam down to Earth from their home planet sometime in February of 2026, when their live session for KEXP ended up going viral. In reality, the masked duo formed in Saguenay, Quebec, Canada in 2019 after having played together in various bands since they were teenagers, and this particular project began to take off after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted and they could resume live performances. They independently released their debut album in 2024, and began attracting attention through regular appearances at Quebec festivals. Listening to their first effort after their breakthrough, its clear that the duo already knew exactly what they were going for right from the start. The albums six songs are filled with springy tempos, microtonal guitar riffs recalling Anatolian rock from Turkey, and the occasional moment of aggression that could be likened to brutal prog bands like the Flying Luttenbachers. By and large, though, Angine de Poitrines music seems fun and freewheeling rather than punishing or intense. Theres such a sense of joy to their angular riffs and bouncy rhythms, and of course the costumes make it obvious that theyre having a great time creating their own weird fantasy world. The duo would only continue to hone their skills following the release of their debut, making their 2026 breakthrough extremely well-timed and appropriate. The songs on Vol. 1 arent quite as memorable as those on Vol. 2, but its still a very solid and highly enjoyable first effort. ~ Paul Simpson