HARMONIUM EN TOURNÉE

L'Heptade done in full in concert in 77, just released after the band stopped to exist in 80 . Strangely enough this was recorded in Vancouver where theoretically the band would have less support as the linguistic tension were at a peak, but then again politics were the furthest thing away from youngsters into Harmonium. The orchestral arrangements are replaced with more KB and some tracks are longer one even going into a jam session and another one is extended by a section that was not present on the studio album.

Although the oeuvre is respected, the whole thing is a bit looser and jazzier.

I finally tracked down this recording, a live version of Serge Fiori's masterpiece double album, L'Heptade, released after the breakup of Harmonium. I had figured it would be pretty close to the original, so I wasn't in any real hurry to get it, but I was pleasantly surprised at the variations on this album. L'Heptade had orchestrated bits by composer Neil Chotem linking the songs, which obviously are not present here. On this recording, the band is revealed to be a tight, jazzy ensemble capable of some remarkably funky playing, particularly the rhythm section, which is killer. The band is also capable of wonderful subletly on the more profound acoustic numbers, and Fiori's incredibly expressive, emotional vocal style comes across, if anything, better on this album than on the original studio recording. Some songs are extended to give room for piano, synth and guitar solos that are virtuosic and interesting. Fiori and Monique Fauteux also do some great scatting, sometimes as a duet. This live version is basically a leaner, more direct version of the original piece that provides a different perspective on the songs, and will certainly be very welcome to the ears of anyone who loved L'Heptade. In my opinion, L'Heptade is a work of great emotional impact and is certainly one of the most memorable landmarks in the history of progressive music.

This is a MASTERPIECE LIVE album! It is among my all-time favorite live albums. Harmonium with modern & vintage keyboards is a perfect combination. Fiori's eccentric lead vocals are amazingly fluid. The ecstatic compositions parts have outstanding follow through, because the complex music is VERY changing here and significantly varies in intensity. The musicians play absolutely flawlessly & irreproachably. Every note is absolutely CAREFULLY placed with the right level of intensity: the ensemble is all the time perfectly synchronized. The very melodic flute & saxes may also participate to the complex & colorful rhythm involved. The music can be funny but melodramatic too. All the time, the emotion is VERY palpable. The enthusiastic crowd is very favorably responding after each track. The electric piano reminds me a bit Supertramp at their best. The soaring electric guitar notes contribute to produce ultra pleasant ethereal & atmospheric textures at the right time & at the right place. The music can be very loaded, fast and complex like on "Le premier ciel". The dynamic music is the opposite of linearity and monotony. Almost 90 minutes of unforgettable music with neither fillers nor dull parts, that's a real tour de force!

Harmonium takes to the stage, with excellent results. Although this is a true team effort, the Serges are featured most prominently: Serge Locat on synths and Serge Fiori on vocals. The general progression of the songs is to start slowly with some delicate vocals over guitar, then add some keys and wind fills, and finally building up to memorable crescendos of heavy synth leads. Even though it perhaps sounds a bit formulaic, there is more than enough variety given the instrumentation and dynamics to keep you interested throughout.

These guys just know how to write captivating songs, and they also pair that with great interplay and variety in their performance. Whether you are looking for tender, intimate tunes (Comme un Fou), playful, folksy numbers (Chanson Noire), prog epics with grand finales (Le Premier Ciel), eerie, haunting melotron and synths (L'exil), fantastic instrumentation (Lumiere de Vie), or the classic Harmonium vocal harmony choruses (Comme un Sage), you can find it on this album. It's all very tasteful and recorded in a quality fashion, especially for a live album of that era. It also helps greatly that the crowd is respectful of Harmonium's quiet sections.

This variety may be a bit of a downside though: most songs are extended pieces feature both up-tempo and louder parts as well as mellow sections. If you are in the mood for just one or the other, your mind may wander a bit throughout this show. However, if you simply want to listen to well-performed and tasteful music, I don't see how En Tournee can disappoint.

Well, I heard high praising about those canadians first two albums, specially the second. But, to me, it didn´t work at the time I had the record. And since I had so many other CDs to listen, I just put it away and forgot about it. I remember once or twice going back to it and thinking it might be good and the problem might be I was not in the right mood to hear it. Whatever the reasons, it never clicked. But the same cannot be said of their live album. A friend brought it for me and I thought it would be interesting to hear them live. I was quite surprised!

The album was released in 1980 and shows the band playing in front of an english speaking audience (in Vancouver), but they only address them in french! Anyway, the crowd is respectful and the recording quality is top notch. The first two songs Comme un fou and Chanson Noire were not very convincing and made me think I would not like this CD either. Not that they are bad, no, but I didn´t like the former´s mix of styles too much, with too many time changes and moods shfiting too fast to fully enjoy it. The latter was just too jazzy and cheesy for my taste, with little or no prog, nor rock. the vocals are also quite different and takes some time to get used to (specially to the occasional scat singing).

But, from then on the album is simply superb! Terrific performances of all involved (absolute fantastic and skilful players), very good songwriting and incredible balanced sound. Their mix of rock, jazz, bossa nova, traditional french music, folk and symphonic prog is quite unique and very, very captivating. L´exil is one of the most poignant songs I´ve had ever heard. It is a pity that those guys broke up soon after this tour.

En torunée isa very powerful and surprising live album that shows how good those guys were on stage. If you´re looking for something different and very good, this is surely a CD to listen to. 4 strong stars.

There are bands that supposedly made, or even makes, albums of the most extraordinary quality, bands that one (i.e. I) know more by name than by musical strengths. Harmonium is one of those. Their second album ranks as one of the finest among symphonic prog. It must be said that I have not spent alot of time examining that record but sure, it is sort of amazing. However, I would like to push for another of theirs.

Live albums are, for the most part, uninteresting or unnecessary. At least that is my personal opinion. Then it happens, a live album comes across your path that really gives you something just a little extra. Harmonium's "En tournée" is one of those examples.

Atmospheric. That is the word that most frequently spring to mind. Atmospheric, rich and varied. See, now there's three words and I do feel that each one of them fits like any glove bought directly from the most merited glovemakers shop. The opening track, setting "Introduction" apart, is one hell of a way to start. Seeing that this live album is made up of the entire "L'heptade", it may be no wonder that "En tournée" starts off just there, with "Comme un fou" but rather it puts the finger on just how amazing a track it is. Especially in a live environment. Everything keeps going after that. "L'exil" is obviously brilliant, as is "Lumiere de vie" or "Comme un sage".

The music is a weird but excellent blend of everything french and beyond. Just as with any band from any country, the music of Harmonium is very much of it's origins. Apart from the symphonic prog rock (which in itself is a vast ocean of sounds and textures, depending on your origin) there are chansons, folk and just about anything that in the musical field makes you think of France or the french speaking Canadian territories, from where Harmonium hails. It may be hard to digest at first, if you're squemish or particular, but I find that after a while it all falls in place. The result is a soundscape impossible to evade, if you were thinking of doing so. It really is spectacular.

The conclusion, then, is that "En tournée" is an album of extraordinary music. The grandest of epics, the most beautiful and haunting melodies and an atmosphere you can touch and feel in the very fibres of the soul. It is sort of sombre but never depressing. Though varied it sometimes seems an album made for reflection and soulsearching. Lovely!

Apart from the brilliance displayed, it came out in a time when progressive music was fighting for it's life and, better still, recorded in 1977, the year when punk rock (some say) brought havoc to the lands of Prog. A live album is never essential in my book but this is probably as close as it will ever get.

Four shining stars and two thumbs up.