Less than half a year since releasing their explosive sophomore album Électrons libres du québec, Population II are back with R.B., a taste of their EP Serpent Échelle, due out on April 19th, 2024 via Bonsound. Available for pre-order now, the EP will be released on a limited-edition cassette tape and on all digital platforms.
Watch and share the visualizer for R.B. via YouTube.
Shifting between orchestral and lysergic riffs without warning, the Montreal-based band addresses the urgency of living in the age of global doom while still enjoying life’s simple pleasures like love, friendship, and wine. Among the song’s distinctive features are guitarist and keyboardist Tristan Lacombe's farfisa, Sébastien Provençal's melodic bass line, singer-drummer Pierre-Luc Gratton's hazy, sinister vocals, as well as their friend Emmanuel Ethier's violin.
Pre-order Serpent Échelle on tape or pre-save the EP on streaming services.
Formed in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac in the Lower Laurentians – a picturesque region of Quebec dubbed " Le pays de la pomme " by those in the know –, Population II looks back on their origins while continuing to move forward with Serpent Échelle, a new EP packed with symbolism and eccentric riffs. Serpent Échelle stands out from the trio's previous releases thanks to wilder, more adventurous sounds and a heavier atmosphere. More than ever, Population II demonstrates their skills for musical composition and a newfound commitment to songwriting, as evidenced by the songs Hélène, R.B. and Comme tu le souhaites (Ding Dong). The three-piece band continues to nurture their taste for improvisation on the instrumental track Le Serpent.
After a run of shows supporting Osees in the U.S. back in 2023, as well as performing in Quebec on numerous occasions - including at FME, M for Montreal, and Taverne Tour - Population II will perform at SXSW in Austin this week. The trio will be back in the U.S. for five shows, opening for Meatbodies, with an additional date in Toronto. See the list below for more details.
Since the release of their album Électrons libres du québec in October, the trio made a name for themselves on both sides of the Atlantic, garnering praise from Rock & Folk, Exclaim!, La Presse and Le Devoir, to name but a few. Population II was also crowned Breakthrough of the Year at GAMIQ.
About Population II
Population II is a band dedicated to its disengagement, constantly working on refining their imposing, yet unpretentious sound. Their origins go way back, and are inextricably linked to teenage memories. After years of jamming, to the point where they developed 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 returned in the fall of 2023 with Électrons libres du québec, their sophomore album, this time released on Bonsound.
Tour Dates
03/12/2024 Austin, TX - SXSW - Swan Dive
03/16/2024 Austin, TX - SXSW - Las Perlas
04/19/2024 Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry *
04/21/2024 Chicago, IL - Schubas *
04/23/2024 Toronto, ON - The Garrison *
04/24/2024 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop *
04/25/2024 Troy, NY - No Fun *
04/27/2024 Brooklyn, NY - Market Hotel *
*Supporting Meatbodies