renseignements supplémentaires
September has landed, meaning one of Quebec’s most wacky and experimental festivals, the Festival de Musique Émergente (lovingly referred to as FME), is only hours away. As one of the co-founders of the DIY, alternative music label, Mothland, Philippe Larocque has been helping curate the visionary lineups for the Rouyn-Noranda festival for many years. We spoke to him ahead of this year’s FME to learn a bit more about his Top Five Acts.
Violent Magic Orchestra – VMO
My colleague JP’s been talking about that crazy black metal infused electro act from Japan for weeks and I finally saw them with my own eyes last week at SAT confirming the hype. I never thought one of the craziest mosh pits I’ve seen this year would be at MUTEK… Don’t miss this, folks!
Xela Edna
Another act that I discovered at SAT when they launched their first record MY DATA CANNOT ROT;. Xela is an amazing performer and is quickly becoming one of my favourite acts coming out of our little island. Blending languages, sounds, and possessed dance moves. I suggest listening to the amazing feat with another favourite of mine, local star elf cyborg KROY!
Mek’Dr’Dr
Coming out of Brussels’s well curated label EXAG,Mek’Dr’Dr plays great minimal, danceable post-punk that will surely make your feet move. It will please fans of the Slits, Liliput or ESG. This one is a hidden gem matched with two of the best new bands coming out of our scene: La Sécurité and Corridor!
Truck Violence
I first saw Truck Violence play songs from their breakthrough album Violence at FME a couple of years ago. I’ve obviously known the band well since we signed them to our label Mothland but they were playing crazy experimental hip hop under the name Truck but I was quite surprised to see them unleash their new sound at Le Cabaret de la dernière chance. Now they are back with two albums out and tons of mileage behind them. It’s going to be sick!!
The Sadies
For some, Rush or The Tragically Hip are the ultimate Canadian rock bands, but for me, it’s The Sadies. I got the chance to spend the whole day with them when they played at Taverne Tour in 2020. It was my first time seeing them, and they totally blew my mind: the crowd was wild, the floor was soaked in booze, and the fiddle went crazy! Sadly, it was the last show Dallas Good played in Montreal. May he rest in peace. Darker Circles is one of my favourite albums.
