Edmundston disco punks Spoutnique have recently levelled up with the release of their second studio album. Solace takes Spoutnique’s sound to a place that is dancier, synthier and more Francophone than ever before.
Tucked in amongst the album’s out-of-this-world sounds and strong dance beats are sultry-toned words that weave a story arch throughout.
“The story picks up right where the first album finishes. So this one is more about a moment of peace… A moment of introspection,” says Spoutnique’s frontman Paul Bourgoin.
The band’s previous album, My Blue Sky Turns Teal, Vol. 1, covers the headspace we fall into after experiencing a loss, like the end of a relationship. It takes listeners through the stages of hurt, numbness and lunacy before finally reaching acceptance.
Solace carries forward by outlining the rising up from those low places. It is about the importance of taking time for yourself and looking inward to commence and carry out your healing. Starting out with the notion of discovering new motivation in new places, the album takes listeners through how it feels to recover from former dependencies and cultivate personal growth.
Notably, the difference between this album and the last is that Solace involves much more French in its lyrics. Though My Blue Sky Turns Teal, Vol 1 did incorporate some French in its mix, Solace makes it its primary language.
“It’s like singing with a different instrument,” says Bourgoin, who uses bilingualism to his artistic advantage. “It’s a lot more fun playing with language when you have more options.”
Having grown up in Edmunston, Bourgoin says he was exposed to both English and French music in equal parts.
“I alway have both languages on at the same time… I don’t wanna have to choose between the two.”
The bilingualism represented in the music is also an inherent aspect of Acadian culture and the linguistic duality present in the band’s home province, New Brunswick. The band switch between French and English effortlessly, embracing both cultures as their own.
Though the band is comprised of Acadians, the language used in this album is not your typical Acadian slang; it blends anachronistic vocabulary with some of Bourgoin’s own made-up words — a choice made solely for style purposes.
The use of such language helps paint colourful and playful imagery that pulls the listener into the otherworldly adventure Solace is here to take us on. While the band have some serious topics to cover, they are simultaneously reaching out a hand to pull us into their extra-terrestrial realm and distract us from the harsher realities.
But seriousness aside, the fact that this album is a synthy space escapade can be largely credited to the joys of purchasing new musical instruments. According to Bourgoin, he and bandmate Jason Guerrette have new synths, and they are just “SO MUCH FUN” to play with.
Solace seamlessly mixes real-life troubles, introspection, space adventures and upbeat dance tunes while maintaining a clean production quality. Spoutnique bounce between cultures and styles in a way that feels wholly organic, creating a dance party we are eager to join in on.
Show Dates:
08.17.19 – Moncton, NB @ Congrès mondial acadien
08.17.19 – Pocologan, NB @ Pocologan Camp Party
08.23.19 – Moncton, NB @ Congrès mondial acadien