SINCE THEIR LIVE ON KEXP PERFORMANCE went viral, it feels like microtonal math rockers Angine de Poitrine have been mispronounced by every English-speaking music commentator in the world. Gen Z has drooled with enthusiasm, millennials nodded their approval, while Gen X and boomers appeared affronted by the sudden success, before reluctantly admitting they were really rather good. Rick Beato put out a reaction video titled ‘Please STOP Sending Me This’ and Classic Album Review another called ‘What The F**K is this Music?!’ Reviews of the bands new album Vol.II have been piling up. Anthony Fantano gave it a LIGHT 7, enjoying the album’s moments of ‘freaky edge’, and Pitchfork a 8.0, approving of their ‘hypnotic churn’. Here at State of Sound HQ, meanwhile, we have been listening with earnest enthusiasm, looking into the distance with a curious smile on our lips and our fingers steepled.

The duo have described themselves as a ‘time-traveling duo… endlessly fascinated by hot dogs, pyramids, and the sheer grandeur of rock music’. The particular vein of rock music they mine is math rock, and for our April playlist we have put together a compilation of some of the genre’s essential tracks. Whether you enjoy the odd time signatures, cerebral instrumental layering or technically intricate guitar playing — in the end it's simply very fine rock 'n' roll.