Malajube

Malajube is a Canadian pop-rock quintet that in 2004 quietly impressed hungry listeners with their debut record Le Compte Complet and more recently has drawn a wide amount of praise for their second album Trompe-l'Oeil, springing out of the already artistically rich local music scene, with their unique and original sound.

Le Compte Complet was released in November '04 on the independent label Dare To Care Records and was recorded at Ground Zero studio by Martin Pelland from The Dears. This record originally propelled their sounds into Quebec’s musical universe, many songs charting in all the region’s college and university radio stations and on Musique Plus.

In 2005, Julien Mineau (vocals, guitars), Francis Mineau (drums), Thomas Augustin (keyboards, vocals) and Mathieu Cournoyer (bass) entered the studio to record Le Compte Complet's follow-up. Still on the Dare To Care imprint but now recorded at Breakglass and Beat Box studios in Montreal by Ryan Battistuzzi, Trompe-l'Oeil sees the band collaborating with the likes of Pierre Lapointe (singing on Montreal -40ºC), Loco Locass (on La Russe), and members of Les Trois Accords and The Dears. Fans of the band's performances of the last two years will recognize some of the included songs, but Trompe-l'Oeil is an additionally "improved" Malajube. The new album captures and energizes elaborate, carefully crafted, catchy, and melodic tracks such as "Casse Cou", "La Monogamie", and the standout single "Montreal - 40ºC". In spring 2006, Malajube recruited new member Renaud Bastien (guitar,keyboards), right before the French release of Le Compte Complet, on the Ladilafe label.

Trompe-l'Oeil has earned Malajube three nominations at the 2007 Juno Awards, a Felix award at l'ADISQ for Revelation of the year, two Felix awards at l'Autre Gala ADISQ, for Alternative album of the year and Album cover. In September 2006, the group was one of the ten finalists in nomination for the prestigious Polaris Music Prize. They also won the awards for Artist of the year and and Best Alternative Rock album at the first edition of the GAMIQ (Gala de l'Alternative Musicale Indépendante du Québec), the Rising Star and Nova Awards at the last MIMI (Montreal Independant Music Initiative) Gala in Montreal as well as a nomination for the Prix Echo de la Chanson, presented by the SOCAN, for La Monogamie.

Malajube has extensively toured the country and abroad playing festivals and events such as the CMJ Music Marathon, Osheaga and Les Eurokeenes, turning on industry-heads and listeners alike. Regardless of the language barrier, Trompe-l’Oeil was released in the U.S. (October 31st, 2006) and has impressed the critics of Pitchfork, Brooklyn Vegan, Wired, Fader, Filter, Spin, Penthouse, Men's Health Journal, Vanity Fair and more! The album will also be released in UK, Europe, Australia and Japan in May! So check your listings for a Malajube show near you and prepare to be blown away !