Les Louanges' second album Crash hits like the aftermath of something big. The Montreal singer songwriter blends alternative pop with hip hop and jazz, his voice sliding between casual and poised over grooves that feel languid but stay sharp. Bolero and Qu'est ce que tu m'fais carry that signature bite, while the title track featuring Corneille stretches into something more bruised.
The record came together in quarantine after a France tour got cut short by the pandemic, but it doesn't sound locked in. It sounds unsteady in a good way. Drums sit loose, basslines wander, and the whole thing moves like someone still catching their balance after success and shutdown hit back to back. Facile and Pigeons lean into indie rock territory. Mono and Déziel pull toward R&B. It's not tidy and it doesn't need to be.
If you liked his debut or you're into the weirder edges of contemporary francophone pop, this one rewards the time. Available on CD and vinyl through Bonsound.
