Mathieu Charbonneau and Pietro Amato have been working together for several years now under Torngat, Ferriswheel and The Luyas. Trumpeter and keyboardist, Amato also performs with Arcade Fire, Bell Orchestre, Islands and Snailhouse whereas keyboardist/producer, Charbonneau plays in Timber Timbre and Polaris Prize Longlisted band, Avec pas d'casque – he has also scored soundtracks for films/television. Their new record, Synth Works Vol. 2 was recorded in March 2020 at Studio La Traque and over the space of a week, [they] knocked together this record before wrapping up on March 17, the day that the country locked down.

Find their music here: Spotify

Instagram: @charbonneau_amato

Charbonneau/Amato, on PINK

"Rose isn't a colour that often comes to mind when thinking about music, but, for our most recent album, it does. Half-way between red and magenta, soft yet energetic, it is beautiful but if you handle it wrong it could hurt. On top of being a colour, a rose can grow in a garden, or on a volcano. From Tim Hecker to Brian Eno, passing through Harmonia, this playlist is dedicated to our children, 2 of whom carry the name Rose. Rose can be found everywhere."

Bing and Ruth - I Had No Dream

You would never know listening to this piece that there’s a double bass and clarinet in it.  We love the melding of sounds, the way one instrument can carry the same melody or intention as another, the unrecognizability and soothing quality of just feeling the music. David Moore is a good friend whom we love and wish we got to see more often.

Tim Hecker - Blood Rainbow

What to say about Tim? Another dear friend. We mixed our record in his studio.  An unsuspecting beautiful emotional ride.  We love the way Tim is able to make complex music but with real gut and feeling. Again, blurred musical sounds and lines.

Laurie Spiegel - The Unquestioned Answer

An unquestioned influence. This music really transports me.  The expanding universe is a perfect title for the album.  The only reason we didn’t put that song on the playlist is because it’s 28 minutes long.  This song is pink though.

Harmonia - Dino

Not to be confused with the Quebecois band Harmonium, this band is one of our biggest influences. They have a sound of their own, out of seemingly nowhere. Mechanic and organic, slow and fast, alive and still. Very hard to emulate!

Sarah Davachi - Ruminant

Sarah introduced Torngat (our old band) to the Cantos Museum in Calgary (now the National Music Center) back in the day.  It’s truly one of the most amazing places in the world.  A candy shop, history lesson and hands-on experience all in one.  A collection of keyboards and synths unlike any other. Sarah’s music is full of discovery and knowledge.

Olivien Mesiaen - 8 preludes: I. La Colombe

I discovered Messiaen while studying jazz and electro-acoustics simultaneously at Concordia University. What I retain the most from his compositions is the way he blends and blurs instruments.  It’s not obvious in this particular composition but his use of strings vs winds vs percussion in an orchestral setting is unparalleled. His use of texture is also well represented in his piano pieces, you can almost imagine woodwinds and woodblocks singing amidst his choices of “crunchy” chords.

Alessandra Celleti, Roedelius - Rose

We love Roedelius, and this song is rose as fuck.

Roger Eno, Brian Eno - Rose Quartz

Is Roger Brian’s brother?  Is Mathieu mine?  Rhodes and Enos, can’t go wrong. Or can they? This song sounds a bit like Roedelius could have written it.  Or Statie?

The Luyas - God is Pink

The Luyas is a band Mathieu and I used to (and still sometimes!) play in.  Mathieu’s modular synth is featured on this track.  Probably one of it’s earliest appearances, at least from my memory.  Built out of a fun jam at Breakglass Studios.

Cédric Dind-Lavoie, Benoit Benoit - Complainte du coureur des bois

Another good friend who made a very beautiful record using an old Quebecois folk music “a capella” compilation record.  The original record consisted of field recordings of old time singers and Cédric is adding beautiful arrangement surrounding the original recordings, creating a whole new experience, connected with the past.

Synth Works Vol. 2 by Charbonneau/Amato will be released March. 4th, 2022 via Backward Music.