Duchess Says

Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs

Alien 8 Recordings

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There are a number of steps involved when starting your own cult. You have to come up with a name (“The Church of the Budgerigars”), allow yourself to be inhabited by spirits (The “Duchess” aka the “Spirit of the Budgie”), choose an ominous symbol (triple “T”s), and, lastly, develop a following.

Since forming in Montreal in 2003, Duchess Says has done exactly that. Singer and keytarist Annie-Claude Deschênes and keyboardist/guitarist Ismaël Tremblay began performing together locally as a duo, before adding guitarist Philippe Clément and drummer Simon Besre to the mix. After touring North America and Europe for the past several years alongside such heavyweights as Sonic Youth, Depeche Mode, and Dinosaur Jr., the group has at last released their first full-length album, Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs (“Anthology of the Three Perches”), and, in the process, created their own mythology.

Their live performances have become the stuff of legend, as a wild-eyed Deschênes leads legions of Dionysian revelers through their demonic sets, oftentimes joining the frenzied crowds and rollicking around onstage like a woman possessed. Now, their frenetic energy has been captured in the studio and the “message of the Duchess” rings true across each earsplitting track. Anthologie hoists the flag of modern electro-dance-punk, while managing to stick closely to its snotty, art-core roots.

The result is a sound that seems oddly familiar, yet somehow entirely original. Menacing bass lines lay anchor to the squealing synthesizers, and there is something both sinister and sexual about Deschênes’ blood-curling shrieks. “Tenen Non Neu” sets the tone with its frantic time signatures, whacked-out vocal effects, and all-around weirdness, while “Ccut Up” offers a (somewhat) more accessible three-chord, punk forumula. Fan favorite “Black Flag” is the centerpiece of an album that also includes a blistering cover of Six Finger Satellite’s “Rabies”.

Duchess Says effortlessly matches the verve and vigor of their punk and no wave predecessors, bringing the raw intensity of their road-tested performances into your home stereo speakers. So dim lights, crank the volume, and prepare to greet the spirit of the budgie.

-J Braxton Cooper