Back in 2022, Monolithe Noir, the project of Antoine Pasqualini, released Rin, a cosmically entrancing and groovy record inspired by the landscapes of Brittany that completely drew us in and ended up being one of our Albums Picks of the Year. Four years on, he’s back with a fourth full-length, La foi gelée, which just came out last week. Written and recorded between Brest and Brussels, Monolithe Noir’s new album is his most vocal and most direct to date. More emotional thematically, La foi gelée deals with grief, but it is also feels bright and alive. There is also a shift in the sound on the album. As the press release describes, “synths now intertwine with saturated guitars and bowed strings; the bass takes center stage, while the voice shifts between fragility and striking directness.”

Head over to his bandcamp to grab the album and check out ‘Long Bridge’, the stellar opening track below. A song about a urban chase of a lost animal friend, it is offered with an accompanying video.

La foi gelée is out now through Humpty Dumpty and Les cloches d’Atlantis.