Angine De Poitrine ‘Vol. II” Review
Written by Beau Croxton
Angine De Poitrine by Constantin Monfilliette
The anonymous and viral microtonal math-rock duo Angine De Poitrine doubles down on their highly unique, odd, fun and brilliant instrumental approach on Vol. II.
Angine De Poitrine’s Vol. II is an oddball ripper that couldn't have arrived at a better time. The Canadian rock duo’s recent performance in their KEXP session has turned them into a viral sensation– not just for their insane black and white polka dot outfits, but for their masterful microtonal guitar work, odd time signatures and brilliant looping tactics. In fact, the KEXP video has now reached at 6.5 million views and counting… and it's only been up for about a month. The whirlwind of enthusiasm around the group is at an all time peak and their mesmerizing approach has got the prog and psych-rock circles in a tizzy. The band brilliantly leans into visually embracing the absurd, while maintaining an very sonically ambitious, unique and unparalleled approach.
Although they are impossible to define, my best attempt might be saying their approach exists somewhere in between the skronky oddness of Les Claypool and Primus , the microtonal desert jams of King Gizzard, the wacky ambition of Frank Zappa, and music from another planet. But still– it feels slightly reductive to say, as they pull from so many areas. Ultimately, the only people that Angine truly sound like are themselves.
The previously released singles from Vol. II have already gone over incredibly well as an ultimate lead up. “Fabien” couldn't be a better opener, as it brings you into their world perfectly– the funk break that occurs about halfway through this track is absurdly catchy and all-consuming. “Mata Zyklek” is a brilliant ripper thatechoes the eastern tendencies of their Vol I track “Sherpa”- it truly feels like a soundtrack to racing through a desert of a distant planet on an alien horse (...it’ll make sense when you listen).
The way “Sarniezz”catches a second wind and takes off in a double time ripping jam is thrilling. The band doesn't meditate on anything repetitive for too long without introducing plenty of instrumental fireworks; the final minute of this tune is truly explosive.
“UTZP” has a hilariously awesome microtonal-polka vibe in its first few minutes that somehow suits their cartoonish visual element perfectly. It’s super tight and fresh, and features tons of lightning speed microtonal noodling and aggressive drum fills that'll blow your mind. The track's second half (and last 2:50) is the most vicious and ripping segment on the whole album, with harmonized Van-Halen esque shredding and pounding drums. It’s an incredibly gnarly standout to say the least.
“Yor Zarad” continues the double time flow, racing beats and odd time signatures that define the band’s unique sound, while leaning into manic energy and interesting breaks that differentiate its segments. The halftime jam at the end of the tune is monstrous and addictive.
“Angor” builds with excellent, proggy harmonized guitars and a hypnotic “showdown” beat that oozes finality, as this wild record comes to a close. It lurks and builds into dramatic bursts like many of the best tunes on the LP, and closes with squelching feedback.
Vol. II continues the group's innovative and very forward-thinking bangers with no sign of slowing down— both instrumentalists in this group are vastly talented and have a very angular, odd and fascinating take on rhythm and rock that soars.
This band is definitely an acquired taste– obviously, their material hits hard for music nerds who are keen for something very far outside the box. The way they combine repetition and cyclical sections with odd measures brings the listener into a trance— but right around every corner, that trance turns into a feverish high thanks to more adrenaline-filled moments. It’s batshit crazy— Angine De Poitrine demands a very specific mood for listening…but when you’re in that mood, it absolutely hits.
The excitement is quite warranted for this group, especially when getting the full visual experience as well. Perhaps it’s a blessing that the whole package is so much better to see live— and it’ll be that much more cathartic live when fans enjoy the full in-person experience. One does wonder how far the visual and sonic combo can go– but it's clear that both the musicians in the group have more than enough talent and cleverness to expand more than enough ways to keep the project running hot and fresh for a long time. It’ll be interesting to see how the project unfolds moving forward, but for now, Vol II rips– it's another electrifying and highly unique LP from this unique new phenomenon.
Occult Highlights: Utzp, Mata Zyklek, Fabienk, Yor Zarad
(… but we recommend you spin the whole thing to soundtrack your abduction)
8.2/10
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