Having just returned to Montreal from a five-date U.S. tour supporting the legendary Osees, Population II now presents Pourquoi qu'on dort pas, the third single from their album Électrons libres du québec, and a nod to the song Why Are We Sleeping by English band Soft Machine, one of the trio's most significant influences.
Électrons libres du québec, which received an 8/10 score in a review published yesterday by Exclaim!, will be out this Friday, October 6th, on Bonsound. This release is preceded by a launch show which will take place tomorrow, October 5th,at La Sala Rossa in Montreal. The band will also perform at Le Pantoum in Québec City on October 13th.
Pourquoi qu’on dort pas is available on all music services.
Pre-order/pre-save Électrons libres du québec on physical (LP/CD) and digital formats.
The album is also available on limited-edition "Yellow Snow" vinyl.
Pourquoi qu'on dort pas (translating to ‘’why aren’t we sleeping’’) emerged from a number of late-night strolls through the streets of Montreal's Ahuntsic neighborhood. During the time we wrote that song, Pierre-Luc (singer/drummer) used to go running at night when he couldn't sleep, explains the trio. As the flora and fauna of Ahuntsic is very diverse, he often came across geese. Anything but drowsy, Pourquoi qu'on dort pas is a true musical epic that captures the feeling of detachment from reality and explores the theme of birds as symbolic figures. Here, the trio is joined by Colin Fisher (Caribou, Born Ruffians), whose saxophone licks combine harmony and dissonance, bringing Population II's second album to a magnificent and tumultuous close.
Pourquoi qu'on dort pas follows the psych-rock time bomb C.T.Q.S., and Beau baptême, a catchy, frenetic track that topped the CISM charts for two consecutive weeks. Thanks to these two singles and their exhilarating live performances, Population II recently caught the attention of Brooklyn Vegan, Gonzaï, Exclaim!, Radio-Canada and PopMatters, who described their sound as ‘’ferocious’’ and their chemistry as ‘’mind-boggling’’.
More straightforward than À la Ô Terre, its predecessor released on Castle Face Records back in 2020, Électrons libres du québec is Population II’s sophomore album. On this new effort produced by Emmanuel Éthier, the three-piece band - made up of singer/drummer Pierre-Luc Gratton, guitarist/keyboardist Tristan Lacombe and bassist Sébastien Provençal - delivers a heavy, psychedelic rock infused with feverish funk rhythms, a hint of jazz philosophy, a burst of early punk energy, and a love of minor scales that harkens back to the roots of heavy metal. With Électrons libres du québec, Population II showcases once again their sharp sense of songcraft and an undeniable expertise of their instruments. This is an album that effortlessly maintains a balance between challenging compositions and instantly memorable melodies.
About Population II
Population II is a band dedicated to its disengagement, constantly working on refining their imposing, yet unpretentious sound. Their origins go back a long way, and are inextricably linked to teenage memories. After years of jamming to the point of developing a sense of telepathy, the trio began recording independent releases that soon caught the attention of John Dwyer, leader of the American rock band Osees and the man behind the independent label Castle Face Records. Thus was born À la Ô Terre, their first label-released album, which came out in 2020. The band spent the next two years playing shows in Canada and the United States, notably performing at SXSW (Austin, Texas) and Pop Montreal, as well as in Toronto, New York and Quebec City. Population II returns this fall with Électrons libres du québec, their sophomore album, this time released on Bonsound.
Tour Dates
05/10/2023 Montréal, QC - La Sala Rossa (Album launch)
11/10/2023 Rimouski, QC - Bains Publics (Phoque Off x ROSEQ)
13/10/2023 Québec City, QC - Le Pantoum (Album launch) ✻
21/10/2023 Saint-Hyacinthe, QC - Le Zaricot °
23/02/2024 Sherbrooke, QC - La Petite Boîte Noire
° Double bill with Yoo Doo Right
✻ Double bill with Motherhood