The Box

Formed in Montreal in 1981 around singer‑songwriter Jean‑Marc Pisapia, The Box initially operated in a pop‑rock and new wave register where keyboards play a central role, and its melodic writing is marked by the FM rock of the 1980s. Originally active under the name Checkpoint Charlie, The Box released a self‑titled debut in 1984, followed by All the Time, All the Time, All the Time... in 1985 and Closer Together in 1987, during which period the band circulated its songs across Canadian stages—clubs, halls and as tour openers. The lineup, which at various times included Jean‑Marc Pisapia, Guy Pisapia, Jean‑Pierre Brie, Claude Thibault and Philippe Bernard, developed an accessible yet crafted sound, between synth‑pop, guitar rock and radio‑friendly choruses, with songs such as Walk Away, Must I Always Remember, L’Affaire Dumoutier and Closer Together. After The Pleasure and the Pain in 1990, The Box disbanded before resuming activity in the mid‑2000s. Black Dog There appeared in 2005, and the band moved in a more progressive direction with Le Horla in 2009, a French‑language album inspired by Maupassant that significantly broadened its aesthetic scope.