by LORRAINE CARPENTER

Since we last spoke to Montag (aka Antoine Bédard), the local songwriter has toured Canada and France, contributed string arrangements and violin to recordings by his Gooom label-mates M83 and produced a sophomore LP, Alone Not Alone, to be released throughout North America on Carpark Records in early February. Montrealers will get first dibs on the disc at this weekend's launch (which promises to be more party than performance) and at selected record stores, as well as from www.montag.ca.

His 2002 debut Are You a Friend? merged the tools and the framework of minimal techno with the genteel textures of indie soft-pop and ambient compositions of all eras. Clearly related yet removed from that mood and aesthetic, the new record is rife with beautifully interwoven organic sounds, including the delicate voices of local singer-songwriter Ariel Engle, Amy Millan from Stars and Montag himself. In the suitably homey and humid atmosphere of Café Esperenza, the Mirror and the songwriter discussed wordplay and canned orchestras.

Mirror: Tell me what you did differently with this album.

Montag: Well, I was tired of working with the same sources of sound so I created a classical-music sound bank. I just recorded some isolated samples of 17 different instruments by musicians at the Conservatoire de Montréal, so now I have a whole orchestra to play around with - it's like the Montag Philharmonic. It sounds full and rich and I'm really happy about this new direction because it's a bit less minimal and glitchy. There were so many musicians doing the same kind of whimsical electronic music, but now I feel I've really created my own sound.

MI: With your own vocals.

MO: I didn't think to put vocals on at first but someone from Gooom said, "I can really hear some songs there, but they're instrumental. Where are the vocals?" I thought, maybe he's right, maybe I should add some lyrics to express myself differently. But I'm still not convinced that I'm a good singer.

MI: Oh, you sound fine. What about your guests?

MO: I've always listened to bands with female vocalists so it was natural for me to ask some girls I knew if they wanted to sing. I like the way Ariel and I work together as a duo - it's like a dialogue. My music is already very inspired by films and old soundtracks, and I'm not really into musicals, but I think it's possible to tell stories in a different way with two voices. I'm hoping to do duos with other boys too.

MI: You don't hear that very often. It seems like you've become a lot more social and open to outside influences.

MO: Definitely, and nearly every track on the album is about someone or a memory related to someone, whereas the first one was more personal and intimate, inside my own little bubble. I did the last album during a lonely phase in my life, and music was like therapy. I was composing music for the first time so it was important to be self-sufficient, which was really rewarding, but then I got sick of it. I wanted to get back to people, share ideas, get feedback and input from friends, and that's what made me really happy about making music again.

CD launch with guests and DJs at main hall
on Saturday, Dec. 18, 8 p.m., $8

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