New to Bongo Joe’s roster but long established in the Lyon post punk/electronic scene, Societe Etrange look set to oscillate more widely with their pulsating new album ‘Chance’ (released on the Bongo Joe label March 4th). Evolving from the partnership of Antoine Bellini (electronics) and Romain Hervault (bass) with roots in their city’s cluster of collectives and creatives, the music of Societe Etrange has been on a slow burn.
Their previous LP ‘Au Revoir’, a debut focused on the motoric and minimal with Alan Vega/Martin Rev undertones, emerged way back in 2015 and now ‘Chance’ marks another breakthrough. With percussionist and electronic musician Jonathan Grandcollot joining the group, the Societe Etrange sound has lost none of that fierce independent edge, it’s just gained more dynamic possibilities.
What ‘Chance’ promises is something less mesmeric but more mercurial, surging post rock heftiness, spikey post punk rhythms and powerful under-swell of dub to push the six tracks through some imagined industrial hinterland. As a lead in the album’s first single ‘La Rue Principale De Grandrif’ is available now and it’s set to get those pre-orders piling in. Cavernous shadowy bass-lines, agile beat acrobatics and minimal guitar coding, the track oozes atmosphere and demands further investigation.
Preorder ‘Chance’ from Bongo Joe : https://societeetrange.bandcamp.com/album/chance
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