French-Canadian post-dance-punk extravaganza Choses Sauvages drop En Joue, a
rock tune smothered in modern funk-pop icing.
That’s At Gunpoint for the English-speaking fans among you. This tightly composed track
feels like someone took Foster the People’s Pumped Up Kicks, dunked it in a vat of melted
Talking Heads vinyl, and made it French.
An energetic, bouncy anthem with beautifully layered basslines, guitars, and synths to bob or
bang your head to, En Joue is quintessential Choses Sauvages. There aren’t enough hyphens in the world to describe their sound, but one thing’s certain- they always bring the
party. The guitars spring around the room but are safely blanketed by a groovy baseline and
quirky synth inflections. Combining this with the high-pitched reverberated vocals makes for
a fun psychedelic sound to slide through.
Beneath the hypnotic groove, however, lies a bold ideological punch. Frontman Félix Bélisle
explains:
“En Joue refers to the feeling of helplessness faced by the extremely violent international
news from recent years. It also deals with the dehumanization of certain populations taken
hostage in armed conflicts and the fear of others.”
Throughout the song, Félix exclaims that “a state of torpor” is grabbing hold of us and warns, we must “run fast,” presumably from “the ghouls that hide under our beds.” The geopolitical scepticism woven into the lyrics adds a punk edge, blending brilliantly with the funk-rock sound to create a biting, satirical tone that’s all too rare in contemporary rock.
The accompanying video captures the band’s electric energy as they dance and perform in a
live session setting. Their chemistry is magnetic, a testament to the fiery stage presence
fans rave about. Watching it feels less like a music video and more like a promise: Choses
Sauvages live is an unmissable experience.
With their third studio album set for release in March 2025, En Joue serves as an
exhilarating teaser. If this track is anything to go by, we’re in for a head-spinning, hip-shaking ride.
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