LA POEXE’s LA POÊSSE is a five-track instrumental set built from baritone guitar, loopstation, metal weight and the loose logic of free jazz. The Québec project pulls mathpunk and noise rock into the same room as surf rock, so a riff can feel blunt and physical one moment, then turn sideways through repetition or an unexpected pause. There’s no singing to soften the impact. The titles, from PÔLES to Le Super-Ordre des Xénarthres, fit the record’s off-kilter sense of humour without taking the playing any less seriously.
These are live instrumental takes recorded without edits in Alexandre Beaumont’s basement in Alma during the winter of 2015. That choice gives LA POÊSSE a rough, immediate presentation, with the loopstation and baritone guitar carrying the arrangement rather than a polished studio mix. It’s a good match for anyone drawn to Québec’s noisier corners, especially fans of instrumental metal, math rock and free improvisation. The release is free, including FLAC, ALAC, WAV and AIFF versions, so there’s little reason not to hear how far this strange little setup can push a riff.
