Press
“When Poirier released his recent album, Migration, in March of this year, it dropped a pile of sunshine on a cold winter. “Jump” kept people toasty when it arrived at Montreal’s icy Igloofest, but “Pale Mal,” recorded with fellow Quebecker Fwonte, is the perfect summer soundtrack.”
PITCHFORK
“The Montreal kingpin could start a party in a morgue with a stack of Liberace records and an air horn.”
EXCLAIM
“Just about every single track here is guaranteed to fill the dancefloor.”
ALL MUSIC GUIDE“Poirier must have been born in a parallel universe because for a guy born and raised with the cold weather of Montreal, well let’s just say it’s a mystery as to how he pulls off the tropical vibes so well.”
MUSIC IS MY SANCTUARY“Poirier continue d’être l’anomalie la plus intéressante de l’industrie musicale québécoise.”
NIGHTLIFE“Poirier has mastered the art of creating the perfect carnival vibe through hits like Go Ballistic and Blazin, and through his live sets and his Soca Road EP is no exception.”
HIPSTERS DON’T DANCE“On the cusp of Trinidad’s fete season, Montreal’s Poirier drops Soca Road, a four-song ode to the fast-paced, loose-hips revelry of Trinidadian calypso. Poirier’s proficient in many genres – hip-hop, dancehall, minimal techno – but his prowess is best revealed in his mastery of the unrelenting energy of soca.”
NOW
“When the man has an idea, he proves to be a born sprinter and runs with it. 8/10”
PREFIX MAG
“Poirier creates a clever, indelible impression with whatever project he’s involved in, Running High being no exception. 4.5/5”
URB
“The tropical punch of Montrealer Ghislain Poirier shows no less potency for his productivity on this strictly-for-the-floor new album, packed with raunchy Caribbean MCs and a dope bonus disc of remixes. 8.5/10”
MONTREAL MIRROR
“Get Crazy,” from Poirier’s new album, Running High … is the kind of speeding bullet of a tune that makes sweaty dancers collapse in exhaustion, all martial snares and spittle-spewing exhortations at frenzied, gabba techno–like tempos.”
EYE WEEKLY
“If you’re looking for an album that’s incredibly enjoyable, then you should definitely check out Run The Riddim.”
I HEART MUSIC
“Setting his sights on Soca this time, Poirier invigorates the style with an almost technofied drum palette and nitrous fuelled synthlines giving the already rampantly uptempo and wildout sound a focussed ravers edge that’ll bite any UK dancefloor in half.”
BOOMKAT“One of the best things about Poirier is that when he remixes a song he has little to no respect for anything about said song other than its empty spaces because he can fill them with exploding bass.”
THE FADER
“Poirier, the man who seamlessly unites just about every genre into his mixes.”
THE FADER“Fascination with every corner of the beatmaking globe by indie dance aficionados has led to investigation into and retooling of untold genres: dancehall from Jamaica, reggaetón from Puerto Rico, kuduro from Angola, kwaito from South Africa, even cumbia from Mexico. But soca, the dominant modern sound of Trinidad and Tobago, is as resilient a local style as any, and until Poirier it has resisted the overtures of outsiders who wish to tweak it for broader consumption. But on “Running High” (Ninja Tune) — a collection of earlier EPs, with a bonus disc of remixes — Poirier does just that, keeping soca’s manic energy and its martial clomp, but crisping and tightening the drums for a more pneumatic effect. It’s flamboyant punishment, through and through.”
NEW YORK TIMES – Jon Caramanica“Poirier’s push into the world of Caribbean and world music for his rhythmic base and samples made for a more comfortable fit with his Quebecois roots. Post-referendum Quebec was fast undergoing a growth spurt much like post-war London’s, only the arrivals were Francophone immigrants from Haiti, North Africa, and the Middle East, and Poirier’s production style and attitude was his most natural reflection of his province’s contemporary multiculturalism to date.”
EXCLAIM“Ghislain’s new soca ep is AMAZING. Uptempto dancefloor euphoria with his massive roughneck sound. it’s also really great to see Mr Slaughter on hear — these tunes will reach Trini and BK carnival for sure. Who’s afraid of 160bpm+? LARGE!”
dj/rupture
“Poirier’s music is the sound of a new Montreal.”
EXCLAIM
“Montreal’s indie guitar bands got plenty of coverage last year, but in 2008 they might be usurped by Ninja Tunessigned hip-hop producer Poirier. The French-Canuck connoisseur of grime, booty bass, ragga and “world riddum idioms” makes music that is accessible, innovative and above all danceable.”
THE INDEPENDENT – UK
“M.I.A. might have the larger stage presence, but Ghislain Poirier has the better beats.”
EXCLAIM“Ever been forced to buy your drink in a bag so that you don’t accidentally smash a bottle into someone’s melon while octopus spazzing all over the dance floor? Ever been trampled by a bunch of shirtless Caribbean youths? Ever driven way too fast without noticing, then refused to turn down the music when the police officer came to your window? If you answered no to any of these questions, dancehall master Poirier will help you accomplish these three life goals.”
EASTERN SURF“Yup, I said it – SOCA. But this ain’t your mama’s soca.”
TURNTABLE LAB
“[‘Blazin’ is a] seriously jaw-dropping 12″ from the always-excellent Ghislain Poirier. There’s a definite dancehall flavour but this is dancehall circa 2020 with squelching synthesizers and a wonky rhythm that pokes at your sides until they start gyrating. (…) Easily the best 12″ on Ninja Tune for years this is one every DJ needs in their box, something to spice up the party and the front room equally this winter… Huge recommendation.”
BOOMKAT
“Whoa. Ghislain Poirier’s grime-fueled bass riddims on No Ground Under have reached another level of sonic insanity. (..) This album strikes a fine balance of between abstract hip-hop and dub-fueled bass power.”
XLR8R
“With jack-knifing collisions of Grime, hip-hop, dubstep, soca, good-time pop and anything else he fancies, DJ Ghislain Poirier has built his Bounce le Gros club night into a local institution. Irreverently and hedonistically crashing through genre boundaries, it’s one of the best parties around. Much like his turntable style, Poirier’s interpretive techniques are unfussy, straightforward and hugely entertaining, relying more on dancefloor-oriented intuition than tricksy manipulation.”
THE WIRE
“This Montreal bass-beat fiend has seen his profile skyrocket as his sound has cemented itself over the past few years. He comes out swinging on his Ninja Tune debut. (…) This is a booty/crunk/electro-breakbeat album that is right in time with current sounds, while mimicking no one. Poirier is creating a genre all his own.”
THE GAZETTE
“Ghislain’s booming bass and big, dirty beats are a major part of what’s put this country (Canada) on the map where this genre is concerned.”
EYE WEEKLY
“He’s been called Montreal’s answer to Diplo, but as he proves here, DJ-producer Ghislain Poirier has his own thing going on.”
THE GAZETTE
“In a remarkably short time, 30-year-old Poirier has become a black belt in beats and bass.”
THE MIRROR
“His collaborations and remixes tend to be uniformly fierce and furious; he knows how to prop up whoever has the microphone.”
CHICAGO READER