BO​Î​TE NOIRE

Following the April 2020 release of their What's Hidden Devours EP, Parisian duo Brusque are determined to make their mark on 2022 with their debut album 'Boîte Noire'. Born out of the haunting mood that marked the first lockdown period in France, these compositions are filled with angst and frustration at a broken, extinct world. Brusque was founded in 2017, with the need to create music that was both visceral and devastating. The band's sound base was shaped from an initial session of improvisations involving these two buddies. The duo format soon proved ideal for channelling the energy that emerged, with a raw and spontaneous intention: "By forming Brusque I was looking to release a lot of musical frustration, to indulge in intense but also contemplative music", explains drummer Clément Duboscq. 'Boîte Noire' is a demonstration of pure catharsis, a rant against a new era of social and existential unrest. Singer-guitarist Jefferson Grégoire delivers the bitter traces of a daily life under lockdown: "I think everyone can identify with the feelings of the protagonist of the album. Being confined, weighed down by your own thoughts, mentally locked in by questions about the future. Although the final track 'My Own Vision' ends the album on a positive note, a glimmer of hope after a dark journey." Recorded, mixed and mastered at Studio Sainte Marthe by Francis Caste (Hangman's Chair, Regarde Les Hommes Tomber, Parlor...), 'Boîte Noire' takes a more brutal approach than its predecessor. "I was already familiar with Francis' work and knew right away that his production style would be perfect for the album," notes Jefferson. "He was insightful and immediately understood what sound I had in mind for the guitars. He brought a rigor and clarity to the project without ever interfering with our natural band dynamic." The intention to capture the cathartic energy of the live performance also translated into hard work during the recording sessions: "Francis pushed me to the limit... for the better, fortunately!" explains Clément. "I was totally exhausted and literally sick on the last day of recording, but he and Jeff also supported and encouraged me enormously during those few days." Fierce and frontal, 'Boite Noire' allows Brusque to tell the story of a fierce struggle for deliverance. - ROBIN ONO