Panorama

Joy and anxiety come together on Panorama, Hélène Barbier's new album. Characterized by haunting melodies, stripped-down choruses, and a subtle layer of nonchalance that reinforces the magnetism of the songs, this avant-pop album was crafted over a period of three years. Born in response to the stress caused by certain events that disrupted the daily life of the Montreal singer and bassist, these nine tracks sound as if they were postcards sent at different moments in life, even if their intriguing lyrics leave room for interpretation.

Influences from the past and present mingle in these deliberately hard-to-date recordings; it's as if The Shaggs had taken guitar lessons from Tom Verlaine in Montreal in 2025, before forming a band by divine accident. The resulting album delivers a symphony of gooey jangle pop riffs, throaty melodies, and tangled grooves that recall a dying jukebox spitting out its last perfect song.