Population II is a band dedicated to its disengagement, constantly working on refining their imposing, yet unpretentious sound. A trio consisting of singer/drummer Pierre-Luc Gratton, guitarist/keyboardist Tristan Lacombe and bassist Sébastien Provençal, Population II are masters at both improvised madness and sophisticated composition, delivering heavy psychedelic rock infused with feverish funk rhythms, a hint of jazz philosophy, a burst of energy reminiscent of punk's early days, and a love of minor scales that harkens back to the roots of heavy metal. The band's uniqueness is reinforced by Pierre-Luc's unique voice and his introspective, nostalgic and offbeat lyrics.
Their sources of inspiration are diverse and not limited to music: the Detroit garage rock and psychedelic funk scenes of the late 60s, the Canterbury scene of the same period, the German experimental rock of the 70s and Miles Davis’ eclectic era collide, bound together by the swampy decor of Pointe-Calumet and, above all, by the deep friendship and undeniable chemistry emerging from its three members. The band has always kept their distance from the Montreal music scene, preferring to develop their idiosyncratic style on their own. The result is a sound that transcends time, immune to the trends that dominate the current indie landscape. Population II thus imposes themselves as an unfathomable entity emerging from the depths of the swamp, characterized as much by hazy ambiences as by cathartic explosions.
The roots of Population II go back a long way, and are inextricably linked to its members’ teenage memories. After years of jamming to the point of developing a sense of telepathy, the trio began recording a handful of independent releases that soon caught the attention of John Dwyer, leader of the American rock band Osees, and the man behind the independent label Castle Face Records. Thus was born À la Ô Terre, their first label-released album, which came out in 2020. The band spent the next two years playing shows in Canada and the United States, notably performing at SXSW (Austin, Texas) and Pop Montreal, as well as in Toronto, New York and Quebec City.
Population II returned in October 2023 with Électrons libres du québec, their sophomore album, this time released on Bonsound. A little more straightforward than its predecessor, this new record reflects a natural progression of the sound the trio established on their previous releases, showing a sharp sense of songcraft and an undeniable expertise of their instruments.
