In the grand pantheon of rock, where legends hang their six-strings and drumsticks after blazing trails of glory, Quebec’s Population II quietly – but determinedly – refuses to play by the established rules. This inventive trio is as comfortable in their musical skin as they are indifferent to the mainstream’s siren call: Pierre-Luc Gratton, who not only belts out tunes but also beats the drums into submission; Tristan Lacombe, a guitar slinger who’s not afraid to tickle the ivories; and Sébastien Provençal, whose bass lines are so deep they might just touch the earth’s core.
These guys whip up a sound that’s one part heavy psychedelic rock, a dash of feverish funk, a sprinkle of jazz wisdom, and a whole lot of punk energy. They’ve also folded in a generous helping of minor scales that’ll have the metalheads nodding in solemn approval. The cherry on top: Pierre-Luc’s voice, which is as distinctive as his lyrics are introspectively quirky.
Hailing from Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, a spot in Quebec as famous for its apples as it is for now birthing this band, Population II are pushing boundaries with their latest EP, Serpent Échelle (set to drop on April 17), an expedition into the wilder side of their sound, laden with symbols and riffs.
R.B., the lead-off single, is a musical rollercoaster that refuses to adhere to any preconceived track. The band masterfully transitions from grand, sweeping orchestral crescendos to the gritty, mind-bending twists of lysergic riffs. It’s as if Beethoven and Hendrix decided to throw a jam session in the middle of a tempest – unpredictable, thrilling. R.B. is a manifesto for the times we live in; a soundtrack to the age of global unease. Population II doesn’t shy away from the big picture, addressing the ticking clock of our era with a sense of urgency that pulses through every note – yet, they remind us that even as the shadow of doom looms large, there’s a luminous side to life waiting to be embraced.
Despite the maelstrom and doomscrolling of daily life in the 21st century, we still celebrate love, the warmth of genuine friendships, and the simple, yet profound pleasure found in a glass of wine. There are still moments of beauty, connection, and joy to be found. Live fully, love deeply, and toast the moments that make life worth living.
The lovely black and white visualizer directed by Didier Pigeon-Perreault and Hugo Jeanson takes us on a frosty winter walk where we can stop and ponder the wonders of nature:
Population II’s story begins in the shared teenage years of its members, where countless jam sessions eventually forged a near-telepathic bond between them. This synergy led to several independent releases, catching the eye of John Dwyer of Osees and head of Castle Face Records. This connection birthed their first major album release, À la Ô Terre, in 2020. Over the next two years, the band made their mark across Canada and the US, with notable performances at SXSW in Austin, Texas, Pop Montreal, Toronto, New York, and Quebec City.
Their inspiration draws from a rich and varied palette: the raw energy of Detroit’s late 60s garage rock and psychedelic funk, the experimental vibes of the Canterbury scene, the bold sounds of 70s German rock, and the groundbreaking phases of Miles Davis. These influences merge uniquely against the backdrop of Pointe-Calumet’s murky environment, all underpinned by the trio’s deep friendship and undeniable synergy. Deliberately distancing themselves from Montreal’s music scene, Population II has carved out a distinctive sound that stands apart from fleeting musical trends, marking them as a unique presence rising from the metaphorical swamp, defined by both dreamlike atmospheres and intense, cathartic bursts.
Serpent Échelle will be available for a limited edition run on tape, as well as on all DSPs. Pre-order the album at these links:
Digital Preorder | Physical Preorder
Post-Punk.com had a chat with Population II about the band’s evolution, their use of violin, and a few thoughts on the new single:
This is the first single off of an upcoming four track EP. What about these songs led you to pair them up for an EP, rather than include them on a future album?
Three songs of this EP were supposed to be on Électrons libres (Hélène, R.B. & Comme tu le souhaites). They had a different vibe and the songwriting was also going another with these three songs. We thought R.B. was going to be a central piece of Électrons libres but it just didn’t fit the pacing of the other songs of the album. We knew we had to use them for an EP since it was so different and then we remembered we had a hypnotic jam in 9/8, Le Serpent that felt really cohesive to the three songs on the EP. It all fits nicely in the end!
Emmanuel Ethier plays some violin on this track, which is rather unusual for the psych-rock genre—how did you end up incorporating it into the track?
Emmanuel was already playing live shows with us on the violin! We met him for À la Ô Terre and then he quickly mentioned that he played violin. We invited him to play shows with us since we’re all fan of Michal Urbaniak’s Inactin. We wrote R.B. and we thought the violin would bring a another layer to the orchestral theme. Emmanuel played the part, we liked it and kept it on the final mix!
How do you see the band’s sound evolving or changing on Serpent Echelle, in comparison to your last record?
The songwriting had step up. We decided to continue on our usual way of improvising first and then add the layers of arrangements. You can feel the different sections more clearly on Serpent Échelle. It has a more refined approach on the sections even though it can gets loud and rowdy has always. It’s something we aspire constantly, to elevate our songwriting and we’re still on this path.
WCatch Population II live:
- 03/12 – Austin, TX – SXSW – Swan Dive
- 03/16 – Austin, TX – SXSW – Las Perlas
- 04/19 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th St. Entry *
- 04/21 – Chicago, IL – Schubas *
- 04/23 – Toronto, ON – The Garrison *
- 04/24 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop *
- 04/25 – Troy, NY – No Fun *
- 04/27 – Brooklyn, NY – Market Hotel *
*opening for Meatbodies
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