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It all began with a video uploaded onto YouTube on February 5, which set off a sequence of occasions no one – not even Nostradamus himself – might have predicted.
Within the house of only a few months, mysterious Canadian unknowns Angine de Poitrine had someway turn into essentially the most talked-about band on the planet – the last word gateway drug into the extraordinary world of microtonal math rock.
As destiny would have it, Seattle radio station KEXP had been those accountable for documenting and sharing the duo’s now-legendary stay session, which befell in December 2025 as a part of the annual Trans Musicales pageant within the French metropolis of Rennes.
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The band had been showcasing a handful of tracks from their then-upcoming second studio album, 2026’s Vol. II, alongside a alternative providing from their 2024 debut. Once public, the footage rapidly took the world by storm, dominating headlines and remark sections throughout the globe.
Here was a band who appeared like they’d arrived from outer house, due to their outsized papier-mâché masks, outsized noses and polka dot costumes, drawing closely from avant-garde and surrealist-adjacent artwork actions like absurdism and Dadaism.
They even talk like extra-terrestrials, as evidenced by their look on Canadian TV present Tout Le Monde En Parle, the place the pair spoke in bleeps, grunts and gargles – noises that had been fastidiously translated by subtitles and by their supervisor, Sébastien Collin, who sat subsequent to them.
There is, in fact, an fascinating backstory right here. The group – Khn on guitar/bass and Klek on drums – half-jokingly declare to be 333-year-old time vacationers impressed by the Nasal Quartet, a solemn choir of proboscis monkeys from the island of Borneo, who the duo as soon as described as “the undisputed musical pinnacle of the galaxy.”
Another huge speaking level has been the double-neck bass/guitar hybrid in Khn’s fingers, fitted with additional frets to assist facilitate their microtonal musings – offering entry to notes and intervals exterior the standard 12-tone equal temperament sometimes utilized in Western music.
With seemingly limitless alternatives for brand spanking new sonic textures, harmonies and melodies, the utilization of this tuning system has been vastly advantageous for the duo, serving to them stand out from the norm and genuinely push the boundaries of creativity within the fashionable age.
They’re under no circumstances the primary musicians to aim this – Radiohead, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Steve Vai and Jacob Collier are only a handful of the western names who’ve experimented in such a way – although at a time when accusations of AI slop and business crops are rife, Angine de Poitrine have been rightfully described by many as a breath of contemporary air.
None of this could imply a factor, nevertheless, in the event that they didn’t have the music or panache to again it up. Gimmicks are OK, however – with out substance – issues turn into topic to ridicule. This shouldn’t be one thing Khn and Klek want to fret about; their largely instrumental music is infectious and performed impossibly effectively, with layer upon layer added in actual time stay on stage.
It’s the form of state of affairs that will make a number of musicians crumble in concern, even with out the visible impairment that comes from carrying masks.
Stylistically, there’s quite a bit at play, from the funky grooves of Sarniezz and the Eastern mysticism on the coronary heart of Mata Zyklek to the mathematics rock insanity of Sherpa. Some of it’d remind you of the cosmos-cruising psychedelic exploits typified by artists like King Crimson, Frank Zappa and Gentle Giant, whereas different elements are extra dissonant, jagged and angular, paying homage to Voivod, Primus and Gong.
In any case, this isn’t radio-friendly or crowd-pleasing music, not less than not by means of intention. They even named themselves after the ache that comes from the guts not receiving sufficient oxygen-rich blood, formally termed by medical professionals as angina pectoris, or simply plain ol’ angina. In extreme circumstances, this tightness and stress can result in a coronary heart assault.
Perhaps it’s the sheer audacity of all of it – from the thriller surrounding their identities to the imagery and music – that’s made them crash land into the zeitgeist as 2026’s unlikely success story, successful them associates in excessive locations equivalent to Dave Grohl and Lars Ulrich.
I’d see these hedonist youngsters who had been a part of this stoner-speed-freak social microcosm recognized for its alcohol-induced-misdeeds
There had been even accusations of a copycat band promoting themselves as the actual deal in Russia, and an unofficial inspired-by signature mannequin, the Microtonal Doubleneck 4/6 by Eastwood that acquired launched in May. There could even be an official Godin signature sooner or later. Whatever they’re doing, it’s working.
In this unique interview (which befell by way of e mail), Khn talks us by means of his musical roots and the gear he depends on and presents recommendation on how one can sound greater when it’s simply the 2 of you.
Which musicians taught you essentially the most, and precisely what did you be taught from them?
The most necessary stuff got here from a instructor I used to be finding out with on the finish of my highschool years. The music faculty on the town had this little venue known as Le Ménestrel, the place I’d go to look at live shows by college students. I’d see these hedonist youngsters who had been a part of this stoner-speed-freak social microcosm recognized for its alcohol-induced-misdeeds.
I ultimately constructed a poetic narrative about how these guys had been leaning selflessly into this high-effort, low-payoff deal the place you must grasp technically troublesome items on an unforgiving instrument – one thing that sounds fairly skinny and can be of no curiosity to the overwhelming majority of individuals.
That’s an fascinating manner of it.
The complete concept really appeared interesting to me, so for my final highschool yr, I switched to the classical-guitar course and signed up for a program the place you begin faculty earlier within the morning in an effort to attend music classes each afternoon.
This meant getting a brand new guitar instructor – the form of instructor a number of children can be a bit terrified of. Someone who at all times appeared mad and had quirky habits like conserving his tuner in an previous Ziploc bag.
What was your first lesson like?
This quick and extremely strung man in cowboy boots lit a hand-rolled smoke in somewhat room, asking me to play one thing. He stopped me after 15 seconds, visibly irritated and disgusted by my shit, earlier than grabbing my hand and submitting down my nails to a very good angle.
He then proceeded to put in an previous taped-up metallic ring to maintain my proper hand’s pinky near its neighbor. He made me play quite a lot of fingerpicking patterns on open strings whereas heavy-handedly correcting my posture and bombarding me with data.
I got here out of that class with a powerful feeling of mediocrity, which pushed me to apply quite a bit. Eventually, we had a really nice relationship.
Those sorts of lecturers will kick the residing crap out of your ego in the event that they really feel such as you don’t push your self, as a result of they really feel strongly about music. But when it turns into apparent that you simply’re placing within the work and making use of the ideas being taught, they turn into essentially the most beneficiant lecturers ever.
He seems like an fascinating character. What was his story?
That man had toured throughout Quebec enjoying bass in blues bands and was an enormous Frank Zappa fan. He made easy preparations of songs like King Kong, Son of Mr. Green Genes and My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama and had us type bands to play these songs stay in entrance of our dad and mom.
He made us improvise noisy, chaotic, atonal transitions between the songs, directing with hand alerts. Someone passing down data and sharing a ardour with such generosity can be my definition of a guitar hero. He’d invite touring musicians to present masterclasses and booked our Zappa tribute to open for different bands or play in eating places downtown.
He advised us tales about life on the highway within the ’70s. Outside of his faculty duties, he pushed us into our first gigs the place we had been getting paid to play to an actual viewers. It made us really feel proud, but additionally self-conscious, opening for 50-year-old fellas with expertise. I hold robust recollections of these years.
My first encounter with odd time signatures was the intro to Zomby Woof on Frank Zappa’s Cheap Thrills
There’s a giant prog and math-rock affect in your music. Are bands like Rush and King Crimson related to the sound you make?
They had been by no means actually a part of my day-to-day music consumption, apart from a few King Crimson albums right here and there. Klek and I did take heed to a number of previous ’70s prog, although, simply not a lot fashionable stuff. I grew up in a rural space with little to no web connection, so I’d take heed to no matter I might discover, largely in thrift outlets or from the general public library. I’d take heed to the identical data six million instances.
My first encounter with odd time signatures was the intro to Zomby Woof on Frank Zappa’s Cheap Thrills. I keep in mind the clerk on the document retailer being obsessed with a young person shopping for that document. I nonetheless love that riff. Klek and myself had been additionally big Gentle Giant followers once we had been younger.
I’d go to his mom’s place and we’d spend our time watching previous Soft Machine, King Crimson, Genesis and Zappa movies on the web, however Gentle Giant had most of our consideration.
They’re positively one of many extra curious names from the ’70s British prog scene. What about them did you discover so inspiring?
We appreciated the truth that their complete proposition was form of awkward and geeky. We thought it was hilarious, whereas additionally genuinely having fun with all of the unbelievable and exquisite musical concepts in there.
Just the Same can be a very good instance of how they’d hold issues groovy in odd instances. The guitar half and punches simply earlier than the two-minute mark, and the way in which that complete subsequent bridge comes alongside, sounds very tasty to me.
What are your three favourite guitar riffs of all time and why?
Everything in Legs by Massacre is like sweet for my mind. It’s the chord sequence and melody on high, plus the basslines and tones. I’d additionally say Reptilia by the Strokes. I’ve at all times had a factor for the sound of energetically strummed 10ths on an electrical guitar.
I’ll additionally say the guitars in Pin It Down by Madison Cunningham. I’ve been massively having fun with her albums. I actually just like the tones, low tuning and subtlety of all of it.
You’ve gotta love something that makes a little bit of a chromatic enclosure across the main third. You gotta love a refrain with a seven really feel that begins with a minor second wobbling in your ear like “vwoubvwoubvwoub.” Do it justice – don’t take heed to it in your automobile whereas chatting along with your buddy. Listen to it loud – it’s nice stuff.
How a lot do you assume when it comes to idea and scales when writing for Angine de Poitrine?
I feel when it comes to scales on a regular basis. Or relatively, intervals in a context. But it’s only a innocent piece of data that sits there within the consciousness. Lots of people get this concept of somebody enjoying robotically with a straight face, pondering, “Now I should play this note, for this reason.”
Even amongst musicians, there may be this fable of how data may someway find yourself hurting your creativity. If I say, “I think in terms of scales all the time,” it doesn’t imply, “the things that should be done according to a given set of rules will dictate all of my choices.” It’s not like I’ll solely act creatively in a sterile and acutely aware effort to create solely utilizing these instruments.
That’s a really balanced manner of it.
When I wander in that house, I’ve a compass and a map in my pocket. Some areas stay blurry to me since my data is proscribed, however I can acknowledge and identify among the sounds and phenomenons that I really like. I can use them by alternative if I’m searching for a particular style, however I may let issues occur and analyze as I’m going and even after. Terminology issues to me.
When somebody makes use of the inappropriate time period in a dialog, I turn into insanely irritated. I make a acutely aware effort to not hassle folks an excessive amount of with that stuff, although. But once you play chords, intervals, melodies in a harmonic and rhythmic context, each side of what’s taking place has a reputation.
Why on earth would somebody make some extent out of not figuring out the names of issues? Terminology is our solely hope at humanity. Without it, chaos awaits. Value terminology. Worship terminology. Or be a monkey. That being mentioned, I’ve at all times dreamed of jamming with monkeys. [Laughs]
What concerning the odd-time signatures?
As far as time signatures go, rhythm tends to occur naturally. But for that reflex to occur, odd-time signatures needed to turn into a pure a part of my vocabulary at a sure level in my youth.
I used to be pushed by curiosity and compelled that rhythmic vocabulary upon myself. Eventually that stuff turns into built-in and you may play it with out a lot thought. We nonetheless use that stuff in a really sq., basic rock ’n’ roll form of manner.
We heard it was Quebec luthier Raphaël Le Breton who constructed the double-neck guitar you utilize – though Klek made your first microtonal instrument.
Klek made the primary microtonal guitar we used. It was a single-neck electrical, an affordable random Strat ripoff that he refretted and put along with elements scattered right here and there. It was a private mission born out of curiosity.
When he made me attempt it, it labored effectively. I fell in love with the brand new territory it opened, however I don’t assume I’d’ve ever set foot in there if he hadn’t introduced that factor over.
With the primary double-neck guitar, the one I’m utilizing in the intervening time, I had a tough time discovering somebody to construct it. After failed makes an attempt asking firms to customise current double-neck fashions, I began shopping for elements. I had two Warmoth necks constructed, simply slotted with no frets, so I requested a luthier again residence to switch and fret the necks into quarter tones.
Basically, I dumped a bunch of elements at his place and he was good sufficient to do the unusual mission with out judging. [Laughs] I had him lower and glue two low-cost Chinese Strat and P-Bass our bodies collectively, and he did a gorgeous job with the fretting.
I wouldn’t say the additional frets convey extra freedom. Arguably, it’s fairly the other. But they open the door to potentialities
How do the additional frets can help you create extra freely?
I wouldn’t say they convey extra freedom. Arguably, it’s fairly the other. But they open the door to potentialities which are new to me, which feels refreshing. I’ve additionally at all times had a factor for chromaticism and dissonance. Double the notes in an octave provide you with a number of chromaticism and friction alternatives, which is nice.
I suppose with time, a number of firms are going to begin providing microtonal guitar choices as a result of there’s a little bit of a rising pattern with that sound in in style occidental music. I used to be really shocked by how laborious it was to get my fingers on a professionally constructed microtonal neck in 2023.
Are there another guitars within the Angine de Poitrine arsenal, and would you ever signal with a giant guitar firm?
There are not any different guitars but, however there is perhaps one thing within the making.
Is it laborious protecting bass and guitar on the similar time, particularly given what number of instances you have to change tones or loop along with your ft?
I play each however by no means on the similar time. The double-neck simply serves a goal of facilitating frequent and fast switches between bass and guitar to loop quick phrases.
The looper pedal tap-dance, fixed saturation stage and quantity administration between the totally different guitar layers and total bodily handicap is what makes the exercise very difficult as a complete. All the traces are relatively playable, should you ask me.
Even with the masks?
Well, when you’ve got this wonderful concept of enjoying these traces in the dead of night with lights flashing in your face, no peripheral imaginative and prescient, greenback retailer acrylic paint throughout your fingers, whereas having a warmth stroke only for kicks, positive, it’s very laborious.
We at all times battle and snigger at how ridiculous all of it is. But it’s a band. It’s an act to make folks smile, to make folks snigger, probably whereas dancing. It wouldn’t make a lot sense to try this if present enterprise was strictly about music as [just sound].
Almost every part will get recorded into your Boss RC-600 looper. How do you ensure all of it locks in with Klek?
Like with any looper, the size of a given loop shall be depending on the size of the primary recorded loop, that means it will likely be in a position to be of equal size, or double, triple or 4 instances the size of that preliminary loop in a given track. With just about any customary looper, two layers or tracks won’t be able to shift and turn into offset from each other.
Meaning that if you wish to use polyrhythmic results, you’ll must loop a phrase lengthy sufficient for that complete cycle to occur the place two phrases shift aside from each other till each their beginnings meet once more. Which implies that should you play like crap, the looper goes to play that crap again to the viewers as is.
Performing every part on the fly like that appears like dangerous enterprise.
There are not any pre-recorded guitar or basslines. Every line must be performed stay; it’s what this freak present is all about – making it ridiculous, laborious and painful for the musicians, thus enjoyable for the viewers.
If I begin utilizing one, two, three pre-recorded traces, the place do I draw the road between that and placing the entire pre-recorded set on there? I’d ditch the guitar, tweak on filters and results, making it a DJ set. Which can be one thing else.
What occurs when issues don’t go in response to plan?
When I mess one thing up, I’ve to erase it earlier than it performs again, whereas conserving on enjoying that phrase, whereas making an attempt to bodily sign to Klek that now we have to stagnate for an additional block of 4, eight or no matter bars right into a given part earlier than shifting ahead.
For him meaning holding again on a buildup and staying alert for that sign that claims, “Okay, I got myself out of my mess – I’m ready to move forward.” It’s harmful, it’s imperfect, and I’m guessing if it someway turns into simple for us, we’ll discover a solution to make it enjoyable once more.
What are the constraints of enjoying in a two-piece band, and what recommendation do you’ve got for duos making an attempt to sound greater?
Obviously, enjoying in a duo imposes huge limitations arrangement-wise, which will be irritating. But it’s not such as you get up within the morning and assume, “Hey, let’s start a duo.” It simply occurs. There you might be, enjoying with somebody since you get alongside musically. No-one else is round, so that you adapt.
Then the years go by, and time doesn’t make it simpler to discover a excellent candidate to herald, even should you ask your self, “Wouldn’t it be great to have a bass or saxophone doing this or that?”
You get used to your workflow as a tight-knit unit. There’s one thing fairly intimate concerning the inventive house between two folks, particularly after 20-something years.
It’s not solely concerning the music, but additionally sharing a typical humorousness and inventive imaginative and prescient. At some level, I suppose you turn into terrified of shaking and disturbing that house. We’re a fossilized duo.
Splitting the sign have to be crucial to create a deeper and richer wall of sound as a duo. It has labored effectively for bands like Royal Blood and Death from Above 1979.
For a thicker and fuller sound in this sort of duo context, sure, the apparent technique is splitting the sign for 2 totally different amps with an ABY swap. But when doing so, I place a number of significance on the next precept: drive, fuzz or any form of distorted sounds ought to get chained after the splitter.
That will get despatched to a guitar amp coping with all of the wealthy mid- and high-frequency harmonic content material, thus conserving the opposite channel to ship right into a clear or nearly clear bass amp, making for a really percussive, snappy and highly effective sound when blended with good style. With heavy music, it’s tempting to drown all of your sounds in heavy saturation, however that kills the snappiness and prevents discovering widespread floor with the drums.
It’s good to make use of heavy-gauge strings on the backside for prime stress, then lighter-gauge strings on the high if you wish to put some pure vibrato and a little bit of expressiveness in there. But I don’t apply that recipe in any respect with Angine in any respect, since I’ve the electrical bass.
Let’s discuss concerning the rig. Usually there aren’t any amps on stage behind you.
I’ve by no means been a lot of a gearhead. As far as amps go, I’ve at all times used easy solid-state amps
I work with no amps on stage more often than not. We run the alerts by means of DIs and rely completely on simulators. It’s handy for our backs and van house, but it surely additionally reacts correctly to the stacking of a number of layers and the apparent crescendo that occurs within the course of.
I’ve by no means been a lot of a gearhead. As far as amps go, I’ve at all times used easy solid-state amps. Any Peavey ripoff bass amp from the early ’80s, paired with a Roland JC-120, has been my go-to for the previous decade.
What pedals can’t you reside with out?
The looper, positively. I at all times carry a spare one which’s stored on stage. For me, having the looper cease working completely is the equal of that basic nightmare the place one goes to high school bare.
Our music will depend on using that system. But the reply may be very project-specific. The humorous factor is it took me practically a decade of enjoying earlier than I purchased my first pedal, which was the Unpleasant Surprise fuzz/gate by Fairfield Circuitry. I purchased it to make scratch-like results with a stay band enjoying rock renditions of digital compositions.
Finally, there will be little question you’re the music business’s largest success story of 2026. Why do you assume that’s?
It can be presumptuous to assume that it’s solely concerning the music. Because, whereas we make an sincere effort to create enjoyable and authentic tunes, there’s additionally an limitless movement of fantastic music being put out on daily basis by folks whose virtuosity knocks me out of my chair.
Has the success of any rock band ever been solely concerning the music? The music must be catchy, but it surely’s additionally about how folks relate to it. Angine confusingly celebrating whereas additionally satirizing a few of rock ’n’ roll’s clichés – all in good enjoyable – is perhaps what lots of people wanted.
In instances the place communication applied sciences convey a relentless scent of concern and battle, Angine invitations everybody to knee-bend dance to bizarre, wonky rock ’n’ roll, placing ahead no particular message about human affairs.
Ultimately we’re saying, “You have the right to let your brain snap out of it for an hour – have a hotdog and go crazy.”
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you may go to the hyperlink bellow:
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