Harmonium

Harmonium is one of the greatest. But, as composers and musicians, they weren't as incredible as the former progressive bands.

La victoire est éphémère mais la gloire est éternelle!

- Napoléon Bonaparte

i heard of them via this site and was pretty blown away by Si On Avait Besoin D'une Cinquième Saison (got quite the look when i asked a record shop for that one Wacko

) and also the self titled album i am yet to listen to. This thread has reminded me to re-listen to it all in fact

Awsome Band The Album Si on Avais Besoin d'une cinquieme saison Is probably the best out of the 3 Th self title debut album of the Band Is Pretty Good altought its more comercially directed then the 2 other albums with songs like pour un instant and Un musicien parmi tant d'autre those are major French Classics you should try the 3 album Heptade the song are more concepts and more long excellent album there is also a live version of that album that Ive never had the chance to listen I'm keeping this one for a special occasion

I really don't see the magic on their music. It is nice sounding at times, but not even close to what is regarded to be.

ahh Harmonium. Such a beautiful band. Who would have thought that a small Canadian band would have made it big in the prog world.

Baggra wrote:

I like the live lp best.

Also it is the rarest.

Fiore/Seguin "Deux cents nuits a la heure" lp is considered the 5th harmonium, since its much same sound.

Serge Locat (keyboardist) solo lp "Transfert' is excellent instrumental prog with folky touches

Chotem had two solo lps - lots piano, sorta like first Reverberi lp.

What? Harmonium Live? I happened to miss that title. I have the first 3 studio releases. I am a late bloomer discovering the band back in 2003. Conventum was a band I discovered in the early 80's. With Harmonium I need a special mood swing. For me, there is no one like them in the sense that what they apply in chord structure differs from earlier prog bands. They have a great originality with their efforts in composition. I mean HAD.....because they disbanded a while ago correct? They don't seem to out right copy or emulate other prog band's formulas. They seemed to be in a world of their own when that observation comes to mind. Personally I find that to be most important. This is apart from the fact that they have a different sound from other bands. When they play a piece, it is very distinctive and you know instantly that it is them yet....their songs are not always structured like the typical prog band either. A very strange band that can draw you in.

Edited by TODDLER - December 30 2010 at 18:07

Yep - Harmonium Live.

2lp set doing "L'Heptade" live. Titled 'En Tournee".

Locat's synth solo on side one is one of best in all Progdom.

Toddler: your American, right?

Tell you what - I have two Tournee trade copies.

You find me either Chakra, "Oceans of Art" or Jimmie Hotz lp and I trade you.

..................

Harmonium's bassist had a rare solo lp in late 70s which really fooled me. It had absolutely beautiful foc art which oozed "prog" ,but turns out the music is mediocre.

Seguin had many solo lps - all contemporary, non-prog.

Not sure if its the SAME R. Seguin, but there were two rare (obscure small label) Seguin lps in the 70s that are completely different from the later contemporary lps. These two are straight (sparse) acoustic guitar instrumental lps.