Are they from another planet? Distant relatives of Mr Blobby? Either way, it’s quite a sight. The Canadian duo take over London’s Troxy for a night of hypnotic riffs, bizarre encounters and unpredictable rock music.
Anticipation was high as Angine de Poitrine arrived at London’s Troxy for a show that had been sold out for months. Over the past year, the Canadian duo have seen their popularity skyrocket, with videos of their live performances attracting millions of views online. Their second album, Vol. II, released in April, has only added to the excitement, standing out as one of the year’s most interesting rock releases. Across six tracks, the pair move between psychedelic rock, disco and almost techno-like rhythms, creating music that’s as infectious as it is difficult to categorise.
There’s something familiar about their sound, drawing on an older era of rock but played with a more modern intensity. The riffs are tightly wound, the rhythms constantly shifting and just when you think you’ve worked out where a song is heading, it takes another turn. It’s an unusual combination, but one that’s clearly finding an audience far beyond the experimental rock scene.
Inside the Troxy, that crossover was obvious. The audience spanned generations, with younger fans standing alongside those who looked like they’d been attending rock concerts for decades. Polka dots were scattered throughout the crowd, a nod to the band’s bizarre appearance and the world they’ve created around their music.
And what an appearance it is. Dressed head to toe in black and white polka dots, complete with oversized masks and protruding noses, the duo resemble characters from a children’s TV show that have been chewed up and spat out. Are they from another planet? Distant relatives of Mr Blobby? Either way, it’s quite a sight.
The show began with glowing shapes illuminating their costumes and a series of strange gargling noises, seemingly their preferred method of communication. As the crowd began clapping along, the rhythm built before launching into the explosive opening of “Yor Zarad”.
For all the absurdity of their appearance, the musicianship was remarkable. Khn worked his way through an extensive collection of pedals, layering riffs through his double-necked guitar and bass, while Klek delivered relentless, tightly controlled drumming. The live sound was remarkably clear, almost identical to their recordings, with every riff and drum pattern cutting through. It’s hard to believe just two musicians can produce that much sound.
“Angor” followed, pushing the intensity further as the band’s costumes lit up in time with the guitar riffs. By the time “Ababa Hotel”, taken from their debut album, arrived, the room was completely absorbed. The beauty of their music is that nothing stays the same for very long. Riffs build, rhythms change and unexpected breaks appear out of nowhere, before another section comes crashing in with even more energy. It’s infectious, and almost impossible to predict what comes next.
Between songs, the performance took on a completely different character. The duo communicated through exaggerated arm movements, distorted screams and guttural exchanges, sounding like two Wookiees attempting their first conversation with humans. Even the drink breaks were entertaining, with Klek casually sipping from an absurdly long straw.
These moments felt like little comedy sketches, with the crowd just as involved as the band. Arms stretched into the air as fans recreated their signature triangle sign, responding to every bizarre noise and gesture. Despite the intensity of the music, much of the audience stood watching in amazement, taking in everything happening on stage. When crowd favourite “Utzp” arrived, the room was once again caught up in the music.
Perhaps the most surprising part of the evening was just how many different people this music had brought together. Beneath the polka dots, alien noises, and absurd humour is an incredibly tight musical partnership, making some of the most interesting rock music around.
Their recordings are impressive enough, but watching the pair recreate those intricate arrangements live, while entertaining an entire room without saying an intelligible word, is something else entirely. It’s hard to think of another band quite like them, and judging by the reaction inside the Troxy, that’s exactly why people can’t get enough.
Words – Joe Hale
