SI ON AVAIT BESOIN D'UNE CINQUIÈME SAISON

"Si On Avait Besoin D'une Cinquieme Saison" (If A Fifth Season Was Needed) is the second album by Quebec-based Progressive Rock band Harmonium, formed in Canada. It is also known as "Les Cinq Saisons" (Five Seasons).

The concept of the album "Si on Avait Besoin D'une Cinquième Saison" revolves around the changing of the seasons, and you can think of it as a progressive folk album, in which French vocals, mellotron are common and blended with flute and harmonica. While this concept was originally conceived and covered by Vivaldi hundreds of years ago, the Harmonium group were confident enough to add their own interpretation to the concept, and they thought of adding an imaginary fifth season to the four typical seasons. As can be expected from such an album, the music of each episode (season) and the mood and feeling of that season are conveyed musically according to the interpretation of the Western World. This fifth imaginary season is especially very special, but it will be covered in the later part of this review.

The album begins with the song "Vert", which symbolizes the spring season. It continues with flutes and fascinating vocal harmonies, and the piece certainly gives off a warm folk vibe. But I don't think this piece will really capture the typical listener, but it sounds pretty nice and upbeat though. In addition, this feeling is intensified with "Dixie," a piece that some criticize for being too optimistic, but to me, "Dixie" perfectly captures the sense of festivity and warmth that summer brings. In total contrast to the obvious folk music of the first track, "Dixie" takes everything into a kind of Ragtime Jazz rhythm, as can be heard by careful listeners of the genre and harmonium continues the song's beauty line with their powerful melodies. 󠀡󠀡

The next two pieces certainly take a less optimistic but more somber approach. "Depuis L'Automne", the piece in which Harmonium represents autumn, sounds incredibly melancholic when compared to its sequel, "En Pleine Face". With some incredible vocal harmonies and a more complex song structure that the first two tracks lack, I think "Depuis L'Automne" will captivate first listeners especially if they are into improvasation. This piece is generally not as entertaining as the previous two pieces (seasons). In addition, this piece follows a more progressive path compared to the other two pieces. In this piece, we see what can be done with an acoustic guitar with echo and sustain effects technically.

"En Pleine Face" shows the Harmonium returning to the folk style found in "Vert", and while listening to this piece, you get the impression of an idyllic, calm winter landscape where everything is covered with snow, and it indeed captures the listener. When you hear the vocal harmonies that start at 3:30, you get excited about what Harmonium can do for the last track. The Accordion (may be harmonica) instrument, which came later, also adds a new warmth to the group. Let's get to the last track? of course, none of the songs that have come out so far can be compared to the mysterious "Histoires Sans Paroles", that is, the fifth season... 󠀡󠀡

"Histoires Sans Paroles" (Stories Without Words)... the only track that symbolizes the last imaginary season that has no connection with other seasons, and this track consists of 5 separate parts. This track, which is the cornerstone of the album; With his mellotron, flute, and complex and original piano composition, he progresses into sections layer by layer. Serge Fiori, the founder of the Harmonium group, expresses in an interview that he still cannot believe how he composed such a piece at the age of 17. He says he never even thought of accompanying her. Being a 17-minute instrumental, this piece creates its own universe completely independently from other pieces, and even the vocal harmonies used in other pieces are not similar to the vocal harmonies that make this piece perfect. At 8:00, we hear a new female vocal harmony that has never been heard on the album, but as I said, it is not similar and since this female vocal is not lyrical, it was used as a musical instrument and this added a new layer to the piece. In addition, a special aspect of this piece; the fact that it never clarifies itself instrumentally for the first listener. This is because all the previous tracks have lyrics in them. Instead, the music just flows... things that are sometimes scary, sometimes funny and pleasant, sometimes sad are the four seasons we do and feel. We listen to an amazing loop of magical sounds that make you feel like you are putting their pieces together.

The last words I can say about the album "Si on Avait Besoin D'une Cinquième Saison"; This album is among Canada's most glorious contributions to progressive music to date. The fact that such a group only released albums with French lyrics prevented them from gaining recognition all over the world. Finally, Harmonium only has 3 albums. I wish we could see more albums from them. Still a 5/5.

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