Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography

STADACONÉ

Sloche

Jazz Rock/Fusion


From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Sloche Stadaconé album cover
4.32 | 181 ratings | 16 reviews | 45% 5 stars

Essential: a masterpiece of
progressive rock music

Write a review

Buy SLOCHE Music
from Progarchives.com partners
Studio Album, released in 1976

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Stadaconé (10:19)
2. Le Cosmophile (5:43)
3. Il faut sauver Barbara (4:19)
4. Ad hoc (4:30)
5. La "baloune" de Varenkurtel au Zythogala (4:57)
6. Isacaaron (ou Le démon des choses sexuelles) (11:22)

Total Time 41:10

Line-up / Musicians

- Caroll Bérard / acoustic & electric guitars, percussion, talkbox
- Réjean Yacola / piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, clavinet, Minimoog
- Martin Murray / Hammond B3, Minimoog, Solina, soprano saxophone, tambourin, backing & chorus (1) vocals
- Gilles Ouellet / celesta, percussion, backing & chorus (1) vocals, co-producer
- Pierre Hébert / bass
- André Roberge / drums, percussion, timbales, tam-tam, chorus vocals (1)

With:
- Rénald Des Rocs / chorus vocals (1)

Releases information

ArtWork: Publiphoto

LP RCA ‎- KPL1-0177 (1976, Canada)

CD ProgQuébec ‎- MPM36 (2009, Canada) Remastered by Reggie Thompson and Réjean Yacola

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
and to projeKct for the last updates
Edit this entry

Buy SLOCHE Stadaconé Music



SLOCHE Stadaconé ratings distribution


4.32
(181 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(45%)
45%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(44%)
44%
Good, but non-essential (9%)
9%
Collectors/fans only (1%)
1%
Poor. Only for completionists (1%)
1%

SLOCHE Stadaconé reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by loserboy
PROG REVIEWER
5 stars SLOCHE were a 70's prog fusion band from Quebec Canada who left behind 2 incredible albums of the highest calibre. Frozen somewhere in the fusion/prog vein "Stadacone" features standout musicianship and sophisticated song writing. Instrumentally this album is unforgettable with great 70's analog keyboards (Hammond B3, Mini-moog, clavinet and piano), great soaring guitar, bass and drum interplay. "Stadacone" is essentially an instrumental album with a bit of talking and chanting throughout. Musically these guys were awesome and really fall in the range of classic GENESIS, YES, GENTLE GIANT and The MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA. The album also features 2 great epic tracks with "Stadacone" and "Isacaaron" each over 10 mins giving the songs lots of room to explore. Both SLOCHE albums are to kill for and are very much essential in your collection.
Review by Sean Trane
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog Folk
4 stars 4.5 stars really!!! With a slightly changed line-up (drummer being replaced and an extre percussionist also), Sloche made an incredible confirmation with their second album, the stunning Amerindian-laced artwork covered Stadaconé. Still headed by the double keyboard attack and having plenty of back-up by their guitarist and the rest of the band, Stadaconé is relatively close to their debut although more towards Mahavishnu and GG, than the debut. One of the odd thing about this album is that it is dedicated to Pierre Boucard who helped write the two epics and that the album was recorded intwo distinct sessions produced by Ouellet for one and Desbien (who had done such a great job on their debut)

Opening 10-min+ title track is already warning us that this album will be slightly more disjointed, but nothing to be alarmed: the spirit of J'un Oeuil is still there. The music is definitely funkier, sometimes even reaching the level of Hancock's sextant or Headhunter (well, maybe not Headhunter ;-). Second is the only sung track (another slight change from the debut) of the album Cosmophile which brings us right back into their debut album, while one of the KB players plays a rare sax solo, too bad the song ends in a fade-out. Sauver Barbara is an organ-drenched syncopated funky jazz-rock that can help raise your mother-in-law from the dead (provided she is not too deeply buried of course, her name is Barbara and you cannot find her stash of dough ;-) while the second side opens on the Ad Hoc highlight and takes you towards a heavenly trip. Yet another short track (outside the two monster epics book-ending the album all other tracks are below the 5 min 30 mark) La Baloune is full of great ambiances with Murray again on woodwinds. Isacaaron is the splendid closing GG-esque track that is giving its all-out effort for the album's personality compared to its debut.

Most classical proghead fans will prefer their debut album, while the fusionhead will enjoy this album, but no matter what both albums are immensely successful and it is a complete shame Sloche will never be able to record a third album. Personally I prefer the debut to this album, mostly on the strength of much more present vocals, which despite their mostly instrumental nature was one of their strength.

Review by belz
PROG REVIEWER
5 stars 4.8/5.0

If you like Sloche first album (J'un oeil), you will surely enjoy this one. The whole album is marvelous, but the first song (Stadaconé) is probably even more than that. The second the song starts, you know you listen to something "special". The sound is professional, rock-solid, way above much of the music made at that time. In my other review on the band, I talked about some Gentle Giant influences, along with what seems to be some Canterbury jazz-fusion, but I forgot to talk about another very popular group at that time in Québec: Maneige. If you like Maneige (especially Libre- Service, which is in my opinion one of their best album), you will surely like Sloche.

I gave Stadaconé 4.8, slightly below the 4.9 I gave for J'un oeil. Those are clearly very high ratings, but I rest my case: this band is awesome: this is the best jazz-prog band I ever listened to. The music is refreshing, new, and I feel like been on acid while listening to the craziness of this music. I'd like to find better words to explain how great this album is, but the best thing I would recommand is to look for Hughes Chantraine review. He RARELY gives 5 stars, and he gave both Sloche album 5 stars (well for this one he gave 4 stars, but said 4.7, which in my opinion is closer to 5 stars than to 4! ;-) ) Another recommandation would be to get up and go buy this album! You will not regret it!

Review by Cesar Inca
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Second and last release by Québécois quintet Sloceh, Stadaconé signlalled the culmination of a great jazz-related progressive rock career that ended too soon (like so many other cases... fellow Québécois act Et Cetera even released only one album). Stadaconé in many ways follows in the vein of the debut effort J'un Oeil, only this time Sloche chooses to prioritize its jazzy side more noticeably. Influences from return to Forever and Weather Report leave their patent marks in the way that the fivesome channel their compositions through their exquisite performative dynamics and agile arrangements. The melodic ideas are not usually tha tcomplex, but the band's inherent drive to bring colorfulness and muscle to their performances allow the guys to take full advantage of the material's potential. The sonic amalgam tends to be stronger in comparison, but by no means Sloche stops inserting delicious passages on the softer side of things. The rhythm duo reminds me a lot of the Shulman-Weathers scheme that had meant so much for the enhancement of the best GG songs. The long opening instrumental (it lasts 10 minutes) bears a clear hint at the line of work preferentially pursued in the entire album: developments of well-ordained jams, candid melodic bases, evident yet constrained complexity in the various guitar and keyboard solos. One weird moment is the brief passage of orga nand chorale that emulates a Gregorian chant: there is an edge of refined satyre in there, but it is pretty much controlled... don't expect a Zappa extravaganza. The next three tracks continuously reinstate the jazz-oriented drive, which by now has to be quite familiar to the listener. There are especially accentuated funky puntuations in the rhythmic sturcture of 'Ad Hoc'. Track no. 5, entitled 'La 'Baloune' de Varenkurtel au Zythogala', travels trhough serene trends, even solemn. The melodic framework is sweet and evocative, providing a powerful connection with the eerie side of the Canterbury tradition (Gilgamesh, mostly), as well as Happy the Man. The closing track has to be described as a tremendous 11 minute prog apotheosis. It is indeed the most pompous piece in the album, and I am tempted to state that it is Sloche's most accomplished compositional effort. The use of Gentle Giant-ish counterpoints and some Bardens-meets-Watkins powerful keyboard orchestrations assure the presence of a tight lyricism all through the jams. In some passages, I can also notice some relatedness with the peculiar majesty that Yes delivered in their Relayer days. All in all, despite the symphonic tendencies alluded in these specific words, Sloche basically remains loyal to the album's integral prog-jazz direction. In conclusion, Stadaconé is an album full of colors and warmth, created with inventiveness and performed with total finesse, enjoyable all the way. Sloche is a mandatory name in any good prog collection.
Review by Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Not as good as their amazing debut in my opinion. I think the biggest disappointment for me is the lack of vocals that really added a special flavour to the debut. All things said though the playing here is flawless.

"Stadacone" opens with a light and bouncey rhythm before it changes a minute in when the guitar arrives. An excellent soundscape 3 minutes in as bass, keys and drums lead the way. Synths come and go. Some rare vocals after 7 minutes with organ then it kicks back in. The song continues to change and I like the organ 9 minutes in. "Le Cosmophile" opens with synths and organ as heavy drums come and go. A change after 1 1/2 minutes as the tempo picks up. It gets a little funky here. Some excellent vocals after 3 minutes. Sax before 4 minutes and organ follows. "Il Fault Sauver Barbara" opens with a catchy rhythm before synths come in. It's back again (the rhythm) until it settles before 2 1/2 minutes then some powerful organ kicks in briefly. Settles again then kicks back in. Well you get the picture. I do like the atmosphere when it settles each time.

"Ad Hoc" is different with the guitar sounding processed at first then becoming normal and leading the way before a minute. Nice bass lines here with atmospheric synths, but it's the guitar that is the focus. "La Balqune De Varenkurtel Au Zythogala" is a pleasant sounding song with synths, keys, drums and bass standing out. "Isacaaron (Ou Le Demon Des Choses Sexuelles)" begins with drums before keys, sax and organ come in. A calm before 1 1/2 minutes then it starts to build. Piano and drums 3 1/2 minutes in lead the way. The sound changes 7 minutes in and i like it. Then we get lots of changes the rest of the way.

The debut was more fun, humerous and free although we get glimpses of these here as well. Great album !

Review by snobb
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
5 stars Second (and last) album of excellent Canadian fusion band. Absolutely unknown band in Europe. This album, besides of Canada, was re-released in Japan only.

Every jazz-rock fusion fan will find on this album all the best this genre invented in mid 70-s. Mostly keyboards driven, music is filled with excellent guitar sound as well. Drumming is jazzy and accented in sound mixing, but it doing a sound even more modern. Hammond sound is on the level of the best prog rock bands of that time, but sound in total are more jazz rock than prog rock.

Compositions all are melodic and played with perfection, common atmosphere is fresh and optimistic (without cheese traces at all). Few songs have pleasant French vocals.

I found this band relatively late, and till now I wonder how so great band stayed so best kept secret for millions of fusion fans almost till now. Differently from some leading bands of its time, music there is well balanced, without soloing and back-up instruments, and for me it is more plus than minus.

One of the best jazz-rock albums from mid 70-s! Absolutely must have for any serious fusion fan.

Really 4,5, rounded to 5.

Review by Warthur
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars Sloche's second album is much like its first; once again, the emphasis is mainly on instrumental passages (in fact, there's no vocals at all this time around), the symphonic influences from the debut sound scaled back to me, and the style is once again fusion- oriented. I'm not as thrilled by it as it seems many others are, but I guess everyone has a few bands that they ought to like given their personal tastes but, for whatever reason, just don't "click" with them - Sloche are evidently one of mine. Once again, I won't go below three stars because I can see how others might quite like this album; if you follow the output of the Quebec scene of the late 1970s, you'll probably find it a great pick.
Review by BrufordFreak
COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars The upbeat funksters from Québec produce their second (and, unfortunately, final) studio album.

1. "Stadaconé" (10:19) While I don't like the bluesy-jazz guitar here, I like the easy funk jazz and clavinet coming from the rest of the band. They've definitely figured out how to get mainstream "hooks" in their music. The two keyboard artists are definitely the stars here! I love how the rhythm section slowly, almost imperceptively, pick up the speeds in the middle. Fun! (17.666667/20)

2. "Le Cosmophile" (5:43) more pop-friendly music that comes from a Todd Rundgren jazz-funk orientation. The first 80-seconds are a bit weird, but then the second motif brings us even closer to the funked up world of Todd Rundgren and particularly his UTOPIA incarnations. There's even a blazing smooth jazz saxophone à la DAVID SANBORN as well as a requisite Hammond solo. (8.875/10)

3. "Il faut sauver Barbara" (4:19) a little quirkier than the previous two songs though not so quirky as to fall into Canterbury territory. at the same time I feel as if the jerky song never really establishes flow nor resolution. (8.6666667/10)

4. "Ad hoc" (4:30) mouth-wah guitar and very busy funk keyboards (Fender Rhodes) and bass give this one more of the FOCUS sound and feel that I caught a little of on their previous album--here more like something off of Mother Focus or Focus Con Proby. Nice but nothing extraordinary. (8.75/10)

5. "La 'baloune' de Varenkurtel au Zythogala" (4:57) another song that starts out with a FOCUS-like sound palette but then goes the direction of Smooth Jazz artists like Ronnie Laws or Narada Michael Walden. However, I absolutely love the bird-like vocals with the bass, Fender Rhodes, and saxophone in the third minute--very HATFIELD AND THE NORTH-like. A fun and pleasantly engaging (if progressively simplistic) song. (8.875/10)

6. "Isacaaron (ou Le démon des choses sexuelles)" (11:22) a quirky-jerky song that plays out like a cross between a cerebral ELP piece mixed with a discordant RETURN TO FOREVER and one of those "unfinished" feeling FOCUS songs. (17.375/20)

Total Time 41:10

The music here is confident but definitely heading a little bit more toward the Smooth Jazz that will take over the Jazz-Rock Fusion movement in the next couple of years. It's clean and focused, the musicianship top notch, but feels as if the constructs are a bit watered down or smoothed out to make them more accessible to a larger audience.

B-/a low four stars; a well-engineered display and well-played album of proggy jazz-rock fusion that at times feels like an announcement that Smooth Jazz is here.

Review by siLLy puPPy
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR PSIKE, JRF/Canterbury, P Metal, Eclectic
5 stars SLOCHE had done fairly well in its native Quebec with its unique blend of progressive rock and jazz-fusion on its debut album "J'un Oeil" which was released in 1975. The band enjoyed a lively tour and in the process found a new legion of dedicated fans who were still very much into the prog scene however the peak of prog had already waned and it the musical tides were turning but nevertheless SLOCHE continued on to crank out one more album before finally calling it a day due to financial hardships. Between the debut album and this sophomore release, drummer Gilles Chiasson had quit the band and was replaced by André Roberge and in addition the quintet became a sextet with the addition of Gilles Ouellet who played the celesta and additional percussion.

STADACONÉ which refers to an Iroquois village that once existed where Quebec City now lies came out in 1976 to critical acclaim. The band had already experienced radio airplay with the previous album and the more accessible sounds of STADACONÉ only guaranteed that this good fortune would continue. After a highly complex debut that intricately mixed up jazz, classical, progressive rock and electronica that developed multiple themes and zigzagged around erratically, STADACONÉ offered a more streamlined sound that kept the compositions more rooted in the Herbie Hancock style jazz-funk sounds present on the debut but on this album became the centerpiece. While the debut already was sparse in the vocal department, STADACONÉ tamped them down even further thus making it practically an instrumental affair although a few vocal parts do jet out of nowhere offering a wild contrast when least expected.

The opening title track sets the mood for the entire album with a catchy upbeat jazz-funk groove that never really leaves the main theme behind and unlike the debut's ability to drift off in unexpected directions. STADACONÉ in contrast to the debut focused on myriad variations on a unified theme. The result is a more uniform sounding album that offers more soloing and technical wizardry to jam around the central groove. The opening title track features adventurous guitar parts, varying keyboard parts as well as a few curve balls in the form of trippy space rock moments and Gentle Giant vocal harmonies that pop in and out from time to time. The following "Le Cosmophile" starts out rather like space rock but then whips itself back into jazz-funk mode with extraordinary keyboard wizardry bringing the early 1970s symphonic prog vibe into the mix however the Yes time signature frenzies of the debut have been abandoned. This track features some great vocal parts as well.

The most proggy track of the album comes smack dab in the middle with the shortest "Il Faut Sauver Barbara" which DOES feature some of those proggier-than-thou time signature freak outs plus some mighty fine keyboard sounds. The band mastered the art of note bending and sustain unlike many others of the day. The dexterous control of speed, dynamics, silence and chord progressions became even more prominent on STADACONÉ. "Ad Hoc" is the funkiest track with a "weeping" guitar sound along with a groovy funk bass and Canterbury-ish keyboard roll which had mostly been abandoned on this album as well. More guitar antics are let off the leash with soloing on par with some of the hard rock and early metal bands of the era. "La "Baloune" de Varenkurtel au Zythogala" is probably the most jazz sounding of the album existing somewhat in the Weather Report department but rocks more than that band ever did. The closing track "Isacaaron (ou Le démon des choses sexuelles)" is the longest track at 11 1/2 minutes and is the most like the material presented on the debut. In its wake it wends and winds all over the place brashly and boldly with time signature frenzies, stylistic shifts and EVERY musician gets to prance his technical prowess like a proud peacock.

Out of the two albums SLOCHE released, STADACONÉ is the one that's easiest to grasp with a single listening experience. It is far more focused and less scattered than "J'un Oeil" but for those who crave an even more adventurous fusion experience, the debut wins hands down. This second coming is no slouch though! Both albums excel in their own way. The fact that STADACONÉ is more focused allows the musicians to perform more sophisticatedly around the centralized jazz-funk groove. All the virtuosity present on the debut is in well abundance here if not more. While the debut focused more on unexpected developments, STADACONÉ is very much more about improvising over the main theme. By 1976 the prospects for progressive acts like SLOCHE making a living at their art become quite bleak as the shotguns of the punk and new wave era had already been heard and quickly brushing the world of prog aside. While it's a sad thing indeed considering how bloody talented this group was, we can only be grateful that SLOCHE released not one but two bonafide masterpieces in its short time and even more thankful that diligent revivalists such as ProgQuebec have remastered and rereleased these treasures that remained lost in time for many decades. SLOCHE is one of those best of the best and proudly sits on my favorite bands of all time list.

Latest members reviews

4 stars Very good prog-jazz music. The music is complex yet very accessible, and there are many interesting and beautiful hooks to enjoy. Plenty of groovy solos, and almost all the album is instrumental (with some french decorations here and there). Many times it reminds of Gentle Giant and similar progr ... (read more)

Report this review (#2437134) | Posted by nivon | Thursday, August 13, 2020 | Review Permanlink

3 stars Sloche continued in a similar mode as their first album for this, their second and unfortunately, last, album. This one is slightly more complex and polished than the first, showing they had fine-tuned their chops, but otherwise represents little change in style. The first track starts off the al ... (read more)

Report this review (#1723937) | Posted by Walkscore | Friday, May 19, 2017 | Review Permanlink

5 stars This is really essential stuff. Not only for fusion-lovers, but also for Canterbury-scene-enthousiast, because the music reminds me a bit of Caravan and Soft Machine but also Kraan and Gentle Giant. There's not much guitar (except on Ad Hoc, wich is mostly a rock-song), but loads of keyboards ... (read more)

Report this review (#1592082) | Posted by Kingsnake | Wednesday, July 27, 2016 | Review Permanlink

5 stars In general, this album is like a more listenable Mr Bungle album that was released 15 years too early, and by Canadians, no less. Sloche leaves the Yes-influenced tracks from the previous album by the wayside, in favor for what I would call bipolar Dadaist jazz funk. On tracks like "Il Faut Sauv ... (read more)

Report this review (#1326106) | Posted by HoldsworthIsGod | Thursday, December 18, 2014 | Review Permanlink

4 stars A fine album from this little-known Canadian jazz-fusion outfit. 'Stadacone' is a collection of strong compositions and playing, and while it does get just a bit demonstrative occasionally, it never really degrades to the self-indulgence of ,say, Return to Forever. All band members p ... (read more)

Report this review (#76680) | Posted by Pafnutij | Saturday, April 29, 2006 | Review Permanlink

5 stars As every french canadian with a babyboomer father who loves prog music, I had this album in my collection. It was a chance, 'cause now most of the Quebec prog-music is burnt into fire or completly forgotten in limbo. What a shame for a so genius musical culture... Thanks for my international fri ... (read more)

Report this review (#68353) | Posted by | Saturday, February 4, 2006 | Review Permanlink

4 stars Sloche was one solid jazz-rock-fusion band from Quebec in the 70's of last century. I haven't heard the first record of them yet (the parcel is already "in transit"). Therefore unfortunately I have no chance to compare what album is better... but in the beginning...maybe it doesn't matter. So ... (read more)

Report this review (#62350) | Posted by Rainer Rein | Friday, December 30, 2005 | Review Permanlink

Post a review of SLOCHE "Stadaconé"

You must be a forum member to post a review, please register here if you are not.

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.