POP Montreal is undoubtedly one of the major fall events for true music fans. From Wednesday, September 27 to Sunday, October 1, dozens and dozens of discoveries and acclaims from artists nestled in pop are taking place in Montreal. Follow the PAN M 360 team until Sunday!
An evening at the Rialto
Charlotte & Boris… wow !
crédit photos: Sarah ODriscoll
The highlight of the first Pop MTL evening was from 11pm to midnight in the main hall of the Rialto. The tandem of singer Charlotte Adigery and composer/producer/multi-instrumentalist Bolis Pupul is something elese!
Two artists from Ghent, Belgium, take center stage. Charlotte Adigery’s charisma is simply irresistible. She’s having the time of her life, and we’re having the time of our lives, while she delivers a performance worthy of showbiz’s most glittering stars. Powerful alto voice, perfect control, ease, sensuality, humor, total energy, her partner joins in with keyboards, gizmos and electric guitar.
From his gear, he draws a variety of electronic, pop and rock references. His hooks are formidable, his riffs clever, his choice of sounds unquestionably tasteful. He mixes electro-pop, IDM, house, techno, big beat, krautrock and industrial sounds to propel his partner to the top in front of a jubilant crowd. It’s impossible to turn down this nocturnal communion, a crescendo of pleasure culminating when the protagonists take to the stage and surround themselves with their newly-conquered fans, as this is their very first time in MTL.
It won’t be the last, either, as we’ve met some top-notch artists whose influence is set to increase tenfold in the near future. Bombshells, I assure you.
Martyn Bootyspoon
Previously, the room was warmed up by Montreal DJ and producer Martyn Bootyspoon, known to have been active since (at least) 2017. His stuff is more than just dance music in line with master trends in electro, house and (especially) ghetto tech, footwork and techno. Bootyspoon doesn’t shy away from sonic rough edges, interlacing his beats with an industrial roughness and textural acidity that give him a well-asserted personality. A cover of Work It, by Marie Davidson, is also a must.
Xela Edna & Eius Echo
Opening the program, Xela Edna , Eius Echo and their Montreal colleagues put us on the scent of exploratory synth pop. The singer strives to give a sensual performance, moving and showcasing herself as the music unfolds behind her. The references are multiple: pop, krautrock, prog rock, ambient… the foundations are clearly electronic, with instruments (cello and guitar) completing the portrait. Maturity is yet to come, but the fundamentals of the approach are seductive from the outset.
