What do you think about these guys?

[sunjamr]

A Canadian band called Angine de Poitrine has flooded my Youtube algorithm. They have so many views they have nearly broken the internet, it is said. Apparently they have been around for a few years, but for some reason have gone mega-viral lately. Many people are boggled by their use of microtonal frets and notes, which have been around for a while, but not widely accepted. Here’s a good analysis of their music by an Italian dude:

Sunjamr Steve

[Michael Krailo]

That is extremely disturbing. That’s all I’m going to say about that.

Go slow and practice correct technique, and your abilities will dramatically improve.

[charjo]

Love his deadpan humour.
These guys are very entertaining and talented but with the average attention span of a goldfish out there I don’t think we’ll hear about them much longer.

John

[sunjamr]

We are not their target audience, young people are. All the teens I know are into them. Here’s an excellent explanation of how they use the microtones:

Sunjamr Steve

[Jonathan Amos]

I’ve just caught up with Angine de Poitrine and spent the last two hours watching them on YouTube connected to my big TV screen and stereo amplifier turned up loud – haven’t done that for a very long time! I think they are amazing both visually and aurally. I can detect a few influences from other music but it’s extremely rare to hear and see such originality. The guitarist designed his own microtonal twin-necked guitar which was custom-made by a local luthier. They have been performing in Canada for the last seven years, have released two albums, have just started a tour of Europe and this video has had 14 million views. John, I think you’ve been proved wrong this time.

Jonathan Amos, Matsuyama, Japan

[Tremelow]

I can see the dexterity and the musical ability of these people, but the best part was the silence after I turned it off. I could only stand 3 minutes.

[Andy N]

Well I was entertained and it grabbed my attention until the end of the video. Part of that was the visual element though, just so weird! The drummer reminds me of “Mr Blobby” from early 90’s uk TV.
Am I likely to have them on my playlist despite those cool bass riffs and their outrageous musicianship? Probably not.

[Michael L]

I’ve had them show up in my YouTube feed too… just never motivated to click on the video. I’m still not.

[Richard G]

Steve, I watched it mainly because you posted it but have to say I was just waiting for the thing to finish. I appreciated the musicianship of the two and the innovative fretted bass but the bizarre presentation reminded me of the futile Eurovision Song Contest performances.

I guess you can say, it didn’t do it for me.

Richard

[JoeD1]

I actually thought it was pretty cool…far out (way far out)…but pretty cool all the same. It actually sounds like a new style of music which is refreshing to see. As for the costumes, well, Peter Gabriel used to surprise the other members of Genesis by suddenly appearing on stage wearing strange animal masks that made no sense at all. Looks like they took it a few steps further.

Joe

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge

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