Saguenay Duo Angine de Poitrine Goes Viral with Enigmatic KEXP Performance
An anonymous art project from Québec has captivated millions. Angine de Poitrine, a duo hailing from Saguenay, has gained sudden, widespread attention thanks to a live performance video on KEXP that has amassed 14.5 million views since February.
The performance is as visually striking as it is sonically unique. The video features the two musicians wearing costumes covered in small dots and masks that evoke the quality of a school stage production. Before they play, the pair chants their band name in a robotic, droning monotone.
The duo consists of guitarist/bassist Khn de Poitrine and drummer Klek. Their sound is defined by the use of microtones, which they achieve by modifying guitar and bass necks with additional frets. The performance features a four-and-a-half-minute track titled Sarniezz, characterized by hypnotic repeating loops and unorthodox time signatures.
"It sounds like hearing an alien make a beautiful mistake."
— Tom Howard (TomShreds), musician
Reaction videos on YouTube showcase a wide spectrum of viewer responses, from bemusement to deep intrigue. Some viewers have specifically noted the technical difficulty inherent in playing a modified instrument. Tom Howard, a musician who posts under the name TomShreds, commented that the music sounds "like hearing an alien make a beautiful mistake."
Morgan Chosnyk, the programming group director for KEXP, stated that the session’s explosive popularity was entirely unexpected. The group describes itself strictly as an "anonymous art project" and has not disclosed the identities of its members. They explained that the costumes began as a joke intended to maintain anonymity.