Country : Canada (Quebec) Label : Lisbon Lux Genres and styles : Rock / Singer-Songwriter / Synth-Pop Year : 2020

Concorde

· by Jean-François Cyr

Death is the central theme of Montreal band Le Couleur’s third album, Concorde. Yet the trio approaches the inescapable finality in a fashion more fantastical than tragic. Death is, so to speak, a sense of urgency that keeps us alive. It is also the myth. Exploring beauty in fatality on synth-pop tunes and a carnal voice, that’s the artistic approach of singer Laurence Giroux-Do and her fellow musicians, Patrick Gosselin and Steeven Chouinard. 

This death is clearly illustrated by the title song of the album, which evokes the crash of a  Air France Concorde in July 2000. The lyrics are eloquent: “body within your body / feel the heat / the weightlessness / infinite dreams / focus to better take flight / in full glory / a supersonic crossing of the Atlantic”. In fact, the lyrics of the 10 tracks are inspired by the story of this single historic Concorde crash, namely flight 4590 to New York. But nothing is really tragic on the Concorde album… 

It’s always sensuality and danceability that prevail in the work of the group. They’ve moved away from the electro universe, though. It’s still sweet and catchy, but darker and more biting than the previous albums, P.O.P. (2016) and Origami (2010). The raging guitar at the end of the superb “Désert”, which opens the album, is proof of this desire to offer stronger and more exploratory passages than before. Same observation for “L’aube du 3ème soleil”, which pushes toward the less familiar. Just after, the lively “Train de minuit” is more digestible, a clever mix of pop and disco which makes us believe that Michael Jackson could have created a soundtrack with Abba…

Listening to Concorde‘s fine French-language proposal, one thing stands out: Le Couleur knows how to blend modern and vintage sounds. Several artists have tried it, but with less success. Energetic, catchy, seductive, the album may seem easy to access. But don’t be mistaken. The ambitious Concorde is a fine frenzy aimed first and foremost at people who love dapper and daring music. It’s pop chic with a lot of tailoring, elegant art that takes you further than the first stopover.

Latest 360 Content

Gus Englehorn – One Eyed Jack Trilogy

Gus Englehorn – One Eyed Jack Trilogy

Festival du Monde Arabe 2024 | Creation of an opera about Sainte-Marine the Disguised, the 5th-century woman who lived as a monk

Festival du Monde Arabe 2024 | Creation of an opera about Sainte-Marine the Disguised, the 5th-century woman who lived as a monk

OSM | Sublime Sibelius !

OSM | Sublime Sibelius !

PHI Centre | Lia Kuri Talks and Sings about Mother, Mother Earth… Motherland

PHI Centre | Lia Kuri Talks and Sings about Mother, Mother Earth… Motherland

We Are Wolves | They’re Older, but… They’re Still Wolves!

We Are Wolves | They’re Older, but… They’re Still Wolves!

Malasartes | Cultural Blending According to Noubi

Malasartes | Cultural Blending According to Noubi

Malasartes | Kleyn Kabaret or how to revive and update Yiddish through music

Malasartes | Kleyn Kabaret or how to revive and update Yiddish through music

Annie Saumier talks about the OSM 2024 Competition

Annie Saumier talks about the OSM 2024 Competition

Pinnacle of Modern Choral Music at the Azrieli Music Prizes

Pinnacle of Modern Choral Music at the Azrieli Music Prizes

OSL | Antoine Bareil Plays Mendelssohn’s Famous Violin Concerto

OSL | Antoine Bareil Plays Mendelssohn’s Famous Violin Concerto

Arab World Festival of Montreal | Narcy and Omar Offendum: Two Decades of Friendship in Artistry

Arab World Festival of Montreal | Narcy and Omar Offendum: Two Decades of Friendship in Artistry

Örjan Sandred and the Stenhammar Quartet Reinvent Live Electronics

Örjan Sandred and the Stenhammar Quartet Reinvent Live Electronics

Wolfgang Rihm – Jakob Lenz

Wolfgang Rihm – Jakob Lenz

James Ehnes/Orchestre philharmonique de Bergen, dir.: Edward Gardner – Sibelius : Violin Concerto, Serenades, Humoresques

James Ehnes/Orchestre philharmonique de Bergen, dir.: Edward Gardner – Sibelius : Violin Concerto, Serenades, Humoresques

India Gailey – Butterfly Lightning Shakes the Earth

India Gailey – Butterfly Lightning Shakes the Earth

Trio Fibonacci – Max Richter Remixed

Trio Fibonacci – Max Richter Remixed

Collectif9 – Rituæls

Collectif9 – Rituæls

Diana Panton – Soft Winds and Roses

Diana Panton – Soft Winds and Roses

Zouz in These Jours de cendres

Zouz in These Jours de cendres

Julian Gutierrez Vinardell – De Ti Lo Quiero Todo

Julian Gutierrez Vinardell – De Ti Lo Quiero Todo

Violons du Roy | Richness and Vocal Splendor of the Divine Handel

Violons du Roy | Richness and Vocal Splendor of the Divine Handel

Le Vivier | Flashback: Immersive Exploration of the Narcissus Myth for Violin and Electronics

Le Vivier | Flashback: Immersive Exploration of the Narcissus Myth for Violin and Electronics

Subscribe to our newsletter