HISTOIRES À L'ENVERS

In North America, the Province of Quebec, for lack of a better description, can conveniently be considered, at least culturally, as a "distinct society" of sort. Americans see "quebecois" as europeans living in America while europeans feel they are french speaking americans. This specificity is equally valid as of matters of interest on this site, and the same formula could be applied when taking Quebec progressive music in consideration. One of the first market to open up to the the new sound of the british scene, the Genesis, Gentle Giant and other Strawbs of this world established their base in Montreal and Quebec City before (relatively) conquering North America. The local scene became one of the most buoyant and original progressive flavor out ot the anglo-american domination. Informed by the political and cultural situation and characterised by an openess to everything new , Quebec musicians experimented in all areas progressive music could reach. They suffered the same disaffection for our beloved sound at the end of the seventies but yet, there, prog never became a dirty word. As a result, you may still discover pretty good bands all along the years, from The Box to Perséides, passing by Ere G, only considering those singing in french. Which lead us to the subject of the day.

Mangeur de Rêves is the last avatar in this great tradition of folk prog bands from Quebec, following the great Harmonium as an avowed deity. Yet their sound is informed by all the evolution of the US neo folk movement. In fact the mood is more indebted to Fleet Foxes than any celtic rooted traditional quebecois music, if one accept a Robin Pecknold singing in french. Under the initial guidance of Jici Lord-Gauthier and Alex Cégé, vocals and guitars (and pretty efficient P.R. work for the latter as far as i'm concerned) one can recognize the cultural roots as soon as the first minute as the atmospheric introduction lets place to "Dernier hiver". In line with the cover picture depicting a seasonal scene from the northern "chez nous", we're treated with the "mangeur's music", mix of acoustic and electric strings, hand percussion and a dash of electric piano in the background, but mostly , those vocal harmonies which came to define the Quebec sound, from Fiori/Normandeau tandem, Beau Dommage, les Séguin and so on. Here is also the link to the Foxes and the Quebec american side. Even more evident on "Ainsi parlait Pinel", the magnum opus of this short (32 minutes) first album, as Alex Cégé adds some "soul blues" feeling to his rendition. Toward the fourth minute, we're treated to a nice electric soloing lying on a bed of electric piano and nowhere else the choice of this homogenous sound anchored in the seventies is more evident.

Mangeur de Rêves install an overall dreamy feeling as the "choice of the heart". "Fille de Lune" does this with certitude, all's well in place by now, nice falsetto's and vocal counterpoint included, the first eponymous Harmonium is called upon. "Ballade en haute mer", with his high tides images and vocabulary is the most rockn'folk in his musical idiom. A rythmn electric guitar riff is dominant, letting place to a nice solo in this decidely most american inspired song of the record. Nice vocal harmonies leed to the last reprise of the refrain. And then, as if to fight back any sense of repetition, follows seamlessly the only instrumental piece of the album, but for the very short opening. Logically attributed to Lord-Gauthier, the flowing lead guitar of the otherwise pastoral "Refuge" is a thing of beauty. At past six minutes " Enfants de coeur", the second longest song of "Histoires à l'envers", plays the role of a nice resume of the whole album with his mix of acoustic/ electric strings, lead and harmony vocals, the rythmn section now firmly and steadily in place, till we reach the last two minutes. Intensifying all the ingredients, the conclusion leads to wonder what's waiting for us on a second offer, hopefully some day soon. One simply hopes for a slightly better and clear production as to allow one who may enjoy french lyrics to better enjoy the nice sound of these "dream eaters" (the litteral translation of the band's name for those not having yet catch it).

Three stars easily translated to four, for followers of the great qubecois folk prog tradition.