Population II unveils Pourquoi qu’on dort pas just two days before the release of Électrons libres du québec

Having just returned to Montreal from a five-date U.S. tour supporting the legendary Osees, Population II now presents Pourquoi qu'on dort pas, the third single from their album Électrons libres du québec, and a nod to the song Why Are We Sleeping by English band Soft Machine, one of the trio's most significant influences.

Électrons libres du québec, which received an 8/10 score in a review published yesterday by Exclaim!, will be out this Friday, October 6th, on Bonsound. This release is preceded by a launch show which will take place tomorrow, October 5th, at La Sala Rossa in Montreal. The band will also perform at Le Pantoum in Québec City on October 13th.

Pourquoi qu'on dort pas (translating to ‘’why aren’t we sleeping’’) emerged from a number of late-night strolls through the streets of Montreal's Ahuntsic neighborhood. During the time we wrote that song, Pierre-Luc (singer/drummer) used to go running at night when he couldn't sleep, explains the trio. As the flora and fauna of Ahuntsic is very diverse, he often came across geese. Anything but drowsy, Pourquoi qu'on dort pas is a true musical epic that captures the feeling of detachment from reality and explores the theme of birds as symbolic figures. Here, the trio is joined by Colin Fisher (Caribou, Born Ruffians), whose saxophone licks combine harmony and dissonance, bringing Population II's second album to a magnificent and tumultuous close.

Pourquoi qu'on dort pas follows the psych-rock time bomb C.T.Q.S., and Beau baptême, a catchy, frenetic track that topped the CISM charts for two consecutive weeks. Thanks to these two singles and their exhilarating live performances, Population II recently caught the attention of Brooklyn Vegan, Gonzaï, Exclaim!, Radio-Canada and PopMatters, who described their sound as ‘’ferocious’’ and their chemistry as ‘’mind-boggling’’.