Angine de Poitrine | Umm?

Okay, YouTube has been at me for weeks to watch these guys (gals?), so I finally caved and watched the video.

These folks are off the deep end of the spectrum. Not the most experimental I’ve ever heard for music, because it is still recognizable a rock-adjacent in sound. They do some neat tricks with loops and effects on top of a microtonal guitar/bass combo with polyrhythm drums. The whole, adjusting knobs on the effects with bare feet is an interesting trick.

And they’ve cultivated their “weird vibe” very precisely between the phallic masks and eye-melting pattern clash. They also, apparently, have their own language for interviews for which their manager “translates”.

Looks fun. And they appear talented (from what I can hear, but there is an emphasis on disruption and subversion, so I might not be hearing it quite right).

But.

For me, it started to sound clever but samey after a point. More gimmick than hook, if you know what I mean.

I jumped to a song above, but feel free to start and the beginning. Give me your read on this. Is microtonal (other notes than the Western chromatic scale) the future? Do you think they’ll be around in three years? Or just a flash in the pan?

Seriously, though, they make Zappa sound relatively grounded. Makes me long for Diamanda Galás and her Steak Knives experimental (opera-trained) vocal/screaming routine, honestly. Wait. Maybe don’t listen to that link. It may give you reason to judge me.

Meh.

Curious if you think they are good, bad or if you’re indifferent to the whole thing. Drop me a note.

michael raven

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8 responses to “Angine de Poitrine | Umm?”

  1. Bob Avatar
    Bob

    I have to agree. This is usually what I enjoy. But can’t seem to get into them. Though I’m going to give them a few more tries.

    Reply
    1. michael raven Avatar
      michael raven

      I think it’s because it has too much frenetic energy. Not enough variety across or within the song. Apparently, however, they are the next big thing you haven’t heard yet if you listen to the internet. I’m unconvinced.

      Reply
      1. Bob Avatar
        Bob

        I agree. I want to like it. Just not there for me.

        Reply
  2. loreleiirvine Avatar
    loreleiirvine

    They’re okay. People are obsessed with optics so can’t get past their image. Funnily enough I was just about to write about them myself! 😄

    Reply
    1. michael raven Avatar
      michael raven

      Thanks for the comment, Lorelei.

      Having grown up in the 70s and 80s, their optics are not particularly strange to me. Even the 90s had their fair share of more outrageous looks (Marilyn Manson, anyone?).

      As you said, they are okay. I doubt they will have much staying power — gimmickry and optics will only take you so far. I have a feeling the internet will move on before the end of the year.

      But kudos to them for snatching their 15 minutes of fame! 🙂

      Reply
  3. chrisnelson61 Avatar
    chrisnelson61

    From a musicality point of view yes, they create an interesting sound. However – and I think that the visuals have a part to play in this – for me they seem to be saying ‘Look at us we’ve got something new and interesting to say’, but I’m not sure how well they live up to the claim. Maybe I’m being a bit harsh. It didn’t move me, I’m afraid.

    Reply
    1. michael raven Avatar
      michael raven

      Odd time signatures, polyrhythms, visual disturbances… but is it good?

      I once met a guy who could drum with each limb playing in a different time signature. Impressive as hell. But lacked a hook past the first two minutes. It just wasn’t a sustainable playstyle for the audience to appreciate outside of a venue that attracts people who like to feel self importantly artsy.

      Compare that to jazz, which has some of the same elements, but has something that sticks with the ear and hooks the audience without relying on gimmickry to accomplish it. Turned down on all levels (gadgetry, costuming and volume), it invites the listener in instead of shouting at them to listen.

      I think that somewhere in that last paragraph I might have hit on why it fails to make me say more than “interesting”.

      Reply
      1. chrisnelson61 Avatar
        chrisnelson61

        ‘Is it good?’ That’s the crux really. And yes, I agree with the point you make there about invitation v. shouting.

        Reply

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