Country : Canada (Quebec) Label : Coyote Genres and styles : Electro / Folk Rock / Indie Rock Year : 2020

Le grand spectacle

· by Luc Marchessault

Le grand spectacle is the third step in Julie Blanche’s recording career, after a three-track EP in 2013 and an eponymous debuty full-length in 2015. Even though Madame Blanche has emerged from the long shadow of Antoine Corriveau, the subject matter and results remain no less dark. With songs such as “Ma belle menace”, “Après l’arrivée des monstres”, “Dans le ventre de la nuit” and “Les géants”, one wonder if Blanche isn’t spending too much time with her nose in Patrick Senécal novels. Fortunately, “Terre tranquille” arrives to reassure. 

In this “big show”, Blanche leaves  melancholic folk-rock to move towards contemporary rock, mixed with electro, which sometimes seems to be influenced by the electroacoustic artist Poppy Ackroyd, when the winds blow in the woods. Only the opening bars of “Dans le ventre de la nuit” retain the folk tinge of the old Julie Blanche, before the chorus quotes In Rainbows-era Radiohead. “Les géants”, despite its reassuring Harmonium flavour, isn’t lost in past. “Eclipse” is carried by nervous drums à la Deantoni Parks. The bouncy, percussive  opening of “À l’envers” recalls Marie-Pierre Arthur, while on “Terre tranquille”, Blanche’s voice evokes that of the late Ève Cournoyer. 

Blanche wrote the lyrics and composed the music with Pietro Amato, a founding member of Torngat and collaborator with Bell Orchestre and The Luyas, among others. Mr. Amato also took care of the production, sound recording, mixing and wind arrangements (bassoon, flute, oboe, clarinet and bass clarinet). A “big show” not to be missed, it seems.


Latest 360 Content

Queenie | An Artist to Look Out For

Queenie | An Artist to Look Out For

Jazz at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal explained by Modibo Keita

Jazz at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal explained by Modibo Keita

FIJM 2025 | Programming Explained by Modibo Keita (part 2)

FIJM 2025 | Programming Explained by Modibo Keita (part 2)

Montreal Chamber Music Festival | But it was a nice concert…

Montreal Chamber Music Festival | But it was a nice concert…

Montréal Baroque 2025 | 4 seasons: welcome to the 21st century and the climate crisis, Mr. Vivaldi

Montréal Baroque 2025 | 4 seasons: welcome to the 21st century and the climate crisis, Mr. Vivaldi

Montréal Baroque 2025 | Zarzuela, my love

Montréal Baroque 2025 | Zarzuela, my love

Francos | The Candor and Kindness of Aliosha Schneider

Francos | The Candor and Kindness of Aliosha Schneider

Francos | Back in Time With Saïan Supa Celebration

Francos | Back in Time With Saïan Supa Celebration

Festival d’art vocal de Montréal | What’s On July 2-27 at Salle Claude-Champagne?

Festival d’art vocal de Montréal | What’s On July 2-27 at Salle Claude-Champagne?

Francos | Cardinal at The Foufs

Francos | Cardinal at The Foufs

Piknik Elektronic | Nadim Maghzal, Laylit Co-Founder : MTL Middle East Arabic Electronic Refinement, Pleasure, Fun!

Piknik Elektronic | Nadim Maghzal, Laylit Co-Founder : MTL Middle East Arabic Electronic Refinement, Pleasure, Fun!

Suoni | Sanam, Beirut’s Eloquence on The Brink of Danger

Suoni | Sanam, Beirut’s Eloquence on The Brink of Danger

Francos | Honoring Slam With Grand Corps Malade

Francos | Honoring Slam With Grand Corps Malade

Orford Musique | A Common Thread: Beethoven

Orford Musique | A Common Thread: Beethoven

Suoni | Watch that ends the night records Quinton Barnes + Jason Doell & Naomi McCarroll-Butler + Liam Cole + Alex “Bad Baby” Lukashevsky

Suoni | Watch that ends the night records Quinton Barnes + Jason Doell & Naomi McCarroll-Butler + Liam Cole + Alex “Bad Baby” Lukashevsky

Francos | A Montreal 1st for Emma Peters

Francos | A Montreal 1st for Emma Peters

Suoni | My Thursday at the Suoni: Alex Lukashevsky, Cabaret Noir…

Suoni | My Thursday at the Suoni: Alex Lukashevsky, Cabaret Noir…

My musical garage: interview with Ziya Tabassian for the 11th edition of Garage Concerts

My musical garage: interview with Ziya Tabassian for the 11th edition of Garage Concerts

Suoni | Chik White and Ky Brooks raise their voices (but not Jessica Ackerley)

Suoni | Chik White and Ky Brooks raise their voices (but not Jessica Ackerley)

Francos| A Heatwave for Tiken Jah Fakoly

Francos| A Heatwave for Tiken Jah Fakoly

Francos | Ariane Roy’s Rock Aura

Francos | Ariane Roy’s Rock Aura

Beirut – A Study of Losses

Beirut – A Study of Losses

Orchestroll – Corrosiv

Orchestroll – Corrosiv

Subscribe to our newsletter