After the more frontal and noisy “Bleu,” Baleine take advantage of “Tournevis” to return to the emotional and contemplative, in the vein of “Février.” This new single is in fact a composition by guitarist Nicolas Fourgeaud, dating from before the band was even formed. Its wave-like evolution and unstable yet intelligible rhythm give it all its cachet. It’s full of passion and melancholy, and even catharsis when the drums kick in. Once the main wave has passed, all that’s left is the foam.
Nicolas tells us more:
“This ritornello of arpeggios evokes a sweet, sad memory, which, by dint of its attachment to it, builds to an emotional tension and urgency bordering on a breaking point that leads to distress. But in the end, it all comes down to nothing more than a melancholy dream, and then disappears. “Tournevis” is also about a heart that we try to repair with very little. Like a toolbox that’s too big and contains only one screwdriver!
Here’s another gem from Baleine‘s debut album (also available on Bandcamp):
These rookies of the scene distinguish themselves from their congeners by their minimalist formula and rootsy, lo-fi sound, allowing them to adorn with Folk, Shoegaze, Noise and Math Rock elements! We’ve already had a fine example of this with the first single “Février” unveiled last month. Highly recommended to fans of Slint, Cosse, Tortoise, Mogwai, Trans Am and Bark Psychosis.
II is 7 tracks, 46 minutes of palpable melancholy, with the self-assigned image of Whale surfing his own emotions, translating them into music. The 3 band members give free rein to their experimental desires, driven by their personal tastes for Psychedelic Rock, Post-Punk, Indie and Metal. A rich baggage, we guess, at the service of an organic and tangible music, and an immersive experience where the sequences of memorable themes, in varied playing intentions, make up for the absence of vocals.
Two guitars, one drum kit, and that’s it. Baleine doesn’t need much more gear to draw the outline of its universe, and put itself at the service of divergent, instrumental music. Nicolas, Jonathan and Hector‘s Post-Rock is stripped down to its bare essentials. The successor to “I” (2022), II affirms this unusual style in 2025, a veritable return to the genre’s roots. A multi-layered sonic journey, where introspection never betrays a hint of fun. With its sophomore album under its flippers, Baleine are preparing its migration to the great ocean of the post scene. And one thing’s for sure: this Parisian trio doesn’t just eat plankton!
Pre-Order “II” on Bandcamp: https://baleine.bandcamp.com/album/ii
Tracklist:
01. Février
02. Bleu
03. Sélection
04. Tournevis
05. Windmill
06. Jeju
07. Home
