CREDIT: RACHEL BOESE
Chic Gamine's new album Light A Match blends different flavours of rock and pop with their unique baroque vocal style.

I write about random things a lot. I write a lot about random things. If your Instagram feed is somewhat similar to mine, you may have noticed some cakes circulating a couple of weeks back. To commemorate the tenth anniversary of the release of their album Set Yourself On Fire, Montréal indie rock outfit Stars will be playing the album in its entirety in Toronto in December. To mark the occasion, they sent cakes to some folks.

It took me a few years to find and connect with the record, a milestone in the band’s career in many ways, but it is one I’ve come to associate with some of the most intelligent and discerning listeners.

Not only did the album bring a deserving band to a broader audience and set the path for many artful statements to come, it still resonates strongly with audiences looking for substance and satisfaction in popular music.

And so I feel it is with Winnipeg/ Montréal’s indie pop band Chic Gamine, whose new album Light A Match is set for release on Oct. 23.

Chic Gamine’s sound is a unique fusion of soulful rock and pop with stunning and dexterous vocals, and they’re celebrating the release with a performance this weekend at Aeolian Hall, wrapping up a few Ontario shows before spending time on the road out west next month.

The group themselves are no strangers to Canadian audiences; their 2008 self–titled debut won a Juno Award for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year.

A lot has happened with Chic Gamine in the last five years to breathe new life into their sound. Fans will be familiar with the official lead single “Light A Match” and songs “All Night” and “Follow Through” have been previewed in live performances on their website.

Andrina Turenne, Alexa Dirks and Annick Bremault sing vocals and the sound is anchored by drummer Sacha Daoud and a new member in multi–instrumentalist Benoit Morier.

Light A Match opens particularly strong, serving three captivating tracks in its first 10 minutes; the crunchy blues of “All Night” lends itself well to the vocal harmonies, which establish the trio upfront in a position of authority in the mix.

“I Could Be Your Girl” dials the energy back momentarily to allow the vocals to grow delicately and build with “Gimme Shelter”. By the time the title track claps through its soaring bridge, Chic Gamine have not only demonstrated that they can compellingly blend different flavours of rock and pop with their baroque vocal style, but also that they are more than capable and comfortable controlling the pace and flow of the album.

Over the album’s 45 minutes, the group routes a sonic path that delights in its unpredictability.

“Daydream” is bittersweet over a tender world beat, and up-tempo tunes like “In The Rain” or “Night Court” provide a funky, sultry backdrop over which their lyrics of love and skillful vocals are able to shine.

Chic Gamine have made it look easy to tour at length and work through a lineup change, particularly considering some members don’t make a home of the same province. And though it may have come with a wait, Light A Match plays like a triumph, an album that the band feels is truer to the vision they originally had for themselves.

For more on Chic Gamine, their new album or further tour dates supporting its release, visit chicgamine.com or follow along on Twitter @chicgamine. Tickets for their show at Aeolian Hall on Saturday, October 24 are regularly $26 but cost only $20 for students. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 pm.

And for more of the latest music news, album streams and gigs coming to London, add @fsu_bobbyisms to your timeline. What are you listening to lately? Tweet me a suggestion and I’ll give you a shoutout in print. Until next week, I’m out of words.