Il is the debut studio album of French-Canadian pianist and composer Jean-Michel Blais, released in April 2016 by the Arts & Crafts.

The album is a set of improvised piano pieces Blais recorded in his bedroom in Montreal with a Zoom microphone.

The LP was produced in such a manner where the listener feels immersed in the music by having other sounds outside the piano bleed into the recording, such as breathing, camera shutters, rain, kids playing, and more.

[2] The compositions have a melodic pop structure a la Chilly Gonzales[3][4] and Yann Tiersen,[5] in addition to having influences of the works of Erik Satie,[2] Lubomyr Melnyk,[2] Philip Glass,[2] and Maurice Ravel.

[4] The compositions on Il goes through a diverse range of emotions, from “Nostos" being a sad and thoughtful track to "Budapest" being very playful.

"[7] As writer Stephen Carlick stated, "at times, I felt so immersed in the music, so surrounded, that I was compelled to glance over my shoulder.

[10] An official music video for the track, directed by Jason Rodi and released on March 22, 2016, involves footage of glaciers and seas.

[16] The Verge called it "thrilling, versatile music," highlighting the record's use of sounds that are heard around the piano: "The album is studded with field recordings and idle noise, and some of its most exciting sequences are dependent on physical presence: Blais’ breath, the thudding and clacking of the piano's keys and pedals, the heavy air of the room in which he's playing.

"[3] Carlick, reviewing for Exclaim!, wrote, "Blais maintains a strong sense of originality and personality on Il — a hard thing to do on an instrument that's over 300 years old — by mixing a number of styles into his own strongly emotive sound that's never overly cheery or melancholy, but still suits both moods perfectly.

"[8] Another writer for the source, Calum Slingerland, stated that "Blais's playing is at once immersive and intricate, able to appeal to both genre purists and casual listeners.

[18] Il was number ten on Time magazine's list of the best albums of 2016, who praised the LP's minimal structure: "The music breathes, and it invites you to take a moment and recognize there’s still plenty of beauty left in the world.