Over to the Naeba Ski Resort at Niigata Prefecture for the 2026 Fuji Rock Festival for a set by Angine de Potrine from July 26th of this year.
One of the main reasons Past Daily runs audio-only for concerts is just because of this; you get to listen to the music and not be distracted by the stage presentation and the gimmicks.
I know Angine de Poitrine have established a reputation based on their visual appearance, which strike me as being really uncomfortable to wear in the dead of Summer. And a language which, also to me, sounds vaguely like a cross between a Manscape Lawn Mower and a German Shepherd. But that overshadows some truly interesting music which falls under the categories of Mathrock and Prog once you get past the distractions.
Angine de Poitrine was formed in Saguenay, Quebec, in 2019. The group’s name is the French term for angina pectoris (“angina [lit. strangling] of the chest”), and was initially suggested as a joke; this later became a reflection of the band’s sound, characterized by the members as “dissonance-induced cardiac malfunction”, and conveying a “sense of urgency” in their music. The duo performs anonymously as guitarist Khn de Poitrine and drummer Klek de Poitrine; the two are from La Baie borough and have been musical collaborators for two decades, having performed together in various projects since the age of 13.
The project began as a gag after the pair were booked to perform twice in one week at the same local Saguenay venue; concerned that audiences would not attend the second show, they decided to play the latter set as anonymous, costumed performers under a different name. To complete what the duo later likened to an “Andy Kaufman-esque joke”, they constructed oversized papier-mâché masks with giant noses and full-body black-and-white polka-dotted costumes. During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, with live opportunities limited, the members took up construction jobs.
In March 2026, their appearance on the Quebec television program Tout le monde en parle generated significant media coverage and a strong reaction on social media, particularly due to their use of an invented language during the interview. Several businesses, especially in the group’s home region, adopted Angine de Poitrine’s aesthetic in their social media posts following their appearance on the show. The group members, who wish to remain anonymous, also noted a surge of interest online, with some seeking to discover their identities or contact them.
On April 3, 2026, the New York Times critic Jon Pareles wrote: “Angine de Poitrine have taken the internet by storm this year… The group perfectly masters the power of rhythm, repetition, dissonance, surprise, and noise, and presents them in a whimsical package.” In a context marked by the rise of AI-generated music, favourable reviews highlight the duo’s music as being perceived as distinctly human. The journalist Emilie Hanskamp wrote: “As AI becomes more sophisticated and it becomes harder to distinguish between works created by humans and those that are not, people find immediate comfort and resonance in art that is undeniably human.”
If you’re not already familiar with Angine de Poitrine, grab lunch and press Play for this Festival gig, performed a few days ago.
