AU ROYAUME DU SILENCIEUX

Out the 70's generation of Quebec prog, Conventum was certainly one of the craziest and most experimental bands along with L'Infonie. If that former group played folk music (sometimes medieval sounding), it also spent much time accompanying theatre play performance, because Conventum was the name of a whole circle of artiste, out of which the musicians emerged first. Lussier was a guitarist in that group and post-Conventum he chose to illustrate live or filmed performances and ganged up with saxman Jean Derome (also Ex- Conventum) to form Les Granules in 78 and if guitar & sax was the core of the duo's sound, they soon started playing many instrument, often becoming a one-man orchestra. B TW: another ex-Conventum is involved here (their third and last album) as well: Duschene and his studio.

Sonically speaking, Granules' music resembles much the realm of Justine/Wondeur Brass, not a whole lot more demented than Miriodor or Interference Sardine. Effectively this weird, loose, experimental avant-prog can veer from the playful circus music with fun music to an almost impenetrable musique concrete and presents plenty of complex structures to soothe a avant-prog fan boy. The duo's music is best compared to Josiane Hetu's 90's Justine and indeed was on the Ambiance Magnetique label. Among the credits and thanks are Hétu, Fred Frith and Tom Cora, although there is no mention if they participated or "just were there". Among the fun moments is the almost insect-ual Reves Et Menteries, a very image-worthy

Personally, despite the musicians' undeniable talent and virtusoso mastery of their respective instrument, I can't find that much enjoyment out of their music, since we're probably music the visual aspects of the full oeuvre. And this is a problem of most of Ambiance Magnétique's catalogue. Difficult experimental music are best "enjoyed" live or at least with the images they're supposed to come with, which is not the case here. A typical AM release, which generally means good, but not for everyone.