Energetic and spellbinding, Bibi Club captivated us on November 6, immersing us in a unique universe where the gentleness of a naturalist soul blends with the vibrant power of electro-rock.
I had already seen the duo Adèle Trottier-Rivard and Nicolas Basque in 2023 during the Taverne Tour at Le Quai des Brumes. This legendary venue of Quebecois music is celebrating its 40th anniversary, as programmer Noémie Laniel reminded us. This time, I was driven by a curiosity sparked by their latest song, Amaro, a track far more danceable and edgy than anything they’ve released so far—a song that, I hope, hints at a new direction for Bibi Club.
A breath of new wave
From the very first songs, this shift is noticeable: slightly darker material, more distortion, and a touch drawing from new wave and downtempo. The lyrics retain the natural, elemental poetry that is quintessentially Bibi Club, imbued with love and solidarity. The atmospheres, meanwhile, feel more dramatic than before, with mysterious tones and cinematic guitar strikes reminiscent of Ennio Morricone. Listening to older tracks like Le feu, I realize that this new wave breath has always been there—only tonight, it feels less diaphanous and more direct, even more assertive.
At times, you’re hit with a true wall of sound: heavy drum machine beats, textured synth tones, layered vocals, and fiery guitar solos. Basque frequently lifts his guitar above his head like a rock star. The chemistry between the two artists is effortless and instinctive, forming an almost inseparable unit—reminiscent of Janus—when they stand side by side.
Beneath the multicolored lasers, the crowd sways gently at times, nods vigorously at others, caught in the hypnotic rhythm of the beat.
Then comes Amaro…
The highlight of the show. The stage at Le Quai ignites under scarlet lighting. Mystical tones signal a tense build-up. The oppressive character of the track almost evokes phonk, that brazen electro subgenre born from web culture. For Bibi Club, it’s the discovery of a new, danceable horizon—and the crowd follows suit.
The show’s high point. The stage at Le Quai blazes under scarlet lights. Mystical tones signal a tense, electrifying build-up. The track’s oppressive character almost evokes phonk, that audacious electro subgenre born from web culture. For Bibi Club, it’s the discovery of a new, danceable horizon—and the crowd eagerly follows.
The penultimate song evokes a bit of War On Drugs, before returning to a finale that is pure new wave, pure rock. After the concert, Adèle confides that Amaro was originally an experiment, almost a joke. They created the beat for fun, liked how it turned out, and now it’s the title track of their upcoming album, set to be released next February. It goes to show that sometimes a playful, carefree creation can lead to real nuggets of gold. I sincerely hope that Amaro becomes their guiding star moving forward—a way to bring even more “club” into Bibi Club.
🔗 Also check out our review of Bibi Club at FME!
Photos: Marie-Michèle Bouchard | Luna Choquette Loranger
