Musical Remedial Guide | Philippe Beauchemin’s list

After (another) year rich in musical love at first sight, here are the songs that have passed the test of time in the headphones of our journalists.

Basketball Shoes, from Black Country, New Road

There is no doubt that the youngsters of the London collective had a contrasting month of February. First there was the release of their second album – to critical acclaim, and for good reason! – Ants From Up There, then, shortly after, the departure of the singer with the broken voice Isaac Wood, made “sad and scared” by the media attention. But beyond this story, the 10 new tracks are masterful. A big album that ends wonderfully with basketball shoesa piece in crescendo… of 12 minutes!

Twitchin’ In The Kitchenby Warmduscher (Red Axes remix)

London post-punk band Warmduscher asked collaborators to remix pieces from their repertoire for their EP At The Hotspot Remixed. Five pieces are thus completely reshaped by the artists. Of this little nugget, we especially remember the rereading of Twitchin’ In The Kitchen by the duo Red Axes. The rhythm is catchy – think of The B-52’s –, contagious, festive… and we quickly find ourselves on the dance floor!

Bittersweet, TNby Kevin Morby

On the Memphis guy’s sixth installment, This Is A Photograph, we dive into his family memories with happiness, on folk tunes – à la Bob Dylan – and rock – à la Lou Reed. To his love of 1970s music and traditional country rock sounds, he adds a few well-placed trumpets, a happy collaboration with Erin Rae – as a duet on the piece Bittersweet, TN –, as well as a classic orchestration to update its offer, which we welcome with joy.

Tres HermanosHermanos Gutiérrez

Two guitarist brothers in full possession of their immense means proposed the album in October El Bueno Y El Malo, a must-have for those who love instrumental and cinematic music. Directed by Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys), who even invites himself alongside the brothers on the judiciously titled piece Tres Hermanosthe album plunges us into a road trip dusty reminiscent of Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns. Beautiful and warm: perfect for spending the winter.

A Gente Acaba (Vento Em Rosa)by Alabaster DePlume

We discovered the English saxophonist with To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals, released two years ago. His music, a soft chamber jazz, is both spiritual and fragile. Alabaster DePlume proposed a new album last April, GOLDwhere to the saxophone tunes he added a poetry spoken word. It’s the instrumental In Gente Acaba which still stands out from the pack. An intoxicating, hypnotic piece.

this is notfrom Saints Martyrs, with Xarah Dion

We make good rock in Quebec, and Saints Martyrs proved it this year with its album Last resort mythology. The singer Frère Foutre, the guitarist Souffrance, the keyboardist Anonymous Bosch and the drummer Alpha Vil deploy boundless energy for the pleasure of the amateur of grunge, stoner and even… guttural metal. On the piece this is not, Xarah Dion invites herself to the synths while Frère Foutre shouts at the microphone and the tempo expands. A song that gives energy!

Rideby Flore Laurentienne

Mathieu David Gagnon offers a unique musical look at the St. Lawrence River. On the second organic volume of his project, he experiments with electronic sounds without pushing the notes towards bold plateaus. This gives an extraordinary atmospheric and instrumental album. Listening to the spellbinding piece Ridewe project ourselves on the edge of the river, walking somewhere between Kamouraska and Rivière-du-Loup.

It’s Not Just Me, It’s Everybodyby Weyes Blood

Californian Natalie Mering continues her musical flawlessness with this record released a little over a month ago. Melancholy, It’s Not Just Me, It’s Everybody is the second part of a trilogy inspired by social decay. Nothing fancy, it’s true, but the sweetness that emanates from it soothes and lulls the listener. A bit like the late duo The Carpenters, the retro pop heard on the title track is at the service of the magnificent voice of the one we know as Weyes Blood.