Maneige and Conventum released by ProgQue |
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Sean Trane
Special Collaborator Prog Folk Joined: April 29 2004 Location: Heart of Europe Status: Offline Points: 19752 |
Topic: Maneige and Conventum released by ProgQue Posted: May 17 2006 at 11:35 |
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Great little label ProgQuebec is re-issuing some real gems this month
Everyone (or a lot of progheads) know of Maneige, and both Ni Vent Ni Nouvelle and Libre Service are truely superb. These two albums had received a previous release on the small and defunct Kozak label, but there are live bonus tracks coming from the live album Composite (probably means that this album will not get a re-issue, though)
Those not familiar, please check out my reviews to those albums
More confidential but just as essential are the two albums Conventum released in the late 70's. These guys were an impressive cross between chamber music and prog folk. Both A L'Affût D'Un Complot and Le Bureau Central Des Utopies are absolute must if you love pre-classical music and Gryphon or Anthony Phillips. Both albums come with many bonus tracks , but if you had the previous Kozak
Entered two weeks ago in the Archives with the help of Proglucky (thanks Ron) , I have reviewed the albums this week
CONVENTUM — À l'affût d'un ComplotReview by Sean Trane (Hugues Chantraine)SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog-Folk Specialist While this debut album was released on Le Tamanoir label, it received two CD release both with the original stupendous debut album, but also the much weirder live show they held on April 17, 1977. For this album, Conventum presented themselves as a sextet, but were often enhanced by many more – including Kaczinsky, Forestier and Leger (Orchestre Sympathique). Their mostly acoustic sound is very impressive, highly cultivated (very inclined on semi-medieval and old folk music), half of it instrumental, and is best described as avant-folk-prog. CONVENTUM — Le Bureau Central Des UtopiesReview by Sean Trane (Hugues Chantraine)SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog-Folk Specialist Down to a quartet, Conventum attacked this second album is the same verve as they had, their first and the results are as flamboyant as on their debut. As their previous album had gathered a confidential success, conventum persevered in the direction they had chosen, but they avoided making a carbon copy of the debut. Gone are Bouchard and vocalist Painchaud, but the overall sound remains unchanged, almost completely acoustic. This record was recorded just a month before the first Independence referendum regarding the Quebec separatism, and one can feel that “utopist” issue dominates this album (at least partly). Very much worth the hunt if you love Folk Prog (after all I have been pigeon holed as a specialist of that genre) Edited by Sean Trane - May 17 2006 at 12:17 |
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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
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avestin
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: September 18 2005 Status: Offline Points: 12625 |
Posted: May 17 2006 at 12:17 | |
I am glad to hear this regarding Maneige.
Sean, do you know perhaps is there is any chance that Les Porches will be released on CD? |
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Sean Trane
Special Collaborator Prog Folk Joined: April 29 2004 Location: Heart of Europe Status: Offline Points: 19752 |
Posted: May 17 2006 at 12:19 | |
I think that they (PQ) are blocked by financial discussion with EMI for the first two albums (which were released on Harvest)
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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
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Progfans
Forum Senior Member Joined: August 05 2005 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 214 |
Posted: May 17 2006 at 12:43 | |
I will go to see Nathan Mahl in Ottawa Saturday and i will probably see Stephen from ProgQuebec...
I will ask the question about that and i will post the response monday |
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La cuisine c,est comme l,amour, il faut y croire pour que ca marche
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smcfee
Forum Groupie Joined: May 18 2006 Status: Offline Points: 95 |
Posted: May 18 2006 at 23:14 | |
Hello,
Stephen will not be there but I will be. We have not scheduled Maneige S/T or Les Porches for release at this point because things with EMI are very slow. We have the artist on side, and EMI is cooperative in spirit but it is taking them a long time to do the necessary prep work to be able to license to us. We have to accept the possibility of a 2007 or 2008 release, or even that they may never work with us or anyone else. We have made an alternate plan for September. From a post I made elsewhere: ------------------------------------------------ The first ProgQuebec release for September has been confirmed, and it is a new archival release from Maneige. Tentatively titled "Les Porches Live", it is a 70-minute concert from 1974-1975 featuring the first line-up of the band. The concert contains the entirety of Les Porches performed live. In addition it contains two pieces from the first album, appearing live for the first time, and a 20-minute never-released epic called "Choux-Fleur". Amazingly there is NO overlap between this release and "Live à l'Évêché", and with both releases, you have both their first albums minus one six minute piece. The track list is: 1- Les Aventures de Saxinette et Clariphone (Porches) 16min. 2- Choux-Fleur (unreleased) 16min. 3- Grosse Torche (Porches) 2min 4- Galerie 3 (1st Maneige) 6min 5- Chromo (Porches) 6min 6- Les Porches de Notre-Dame (Porches) 17min 7- Jean-Jacques (1st Maneige) 5min 8- Encore: House of the Rising Sun 3min The sound quality of this release is fantastic. The performance is very impressive. The band's approach was always to have their material nailed cold in concert before they went to studio, and that's clearly the case here. The arrangements are different from what ended up on the studio album; no string quartets or vocals from Raoul Duguay, but instead an incredibly tight progressive chamber rock ensemble performing highly contrapuntal symphonic rock of the highest caliber. I have been listening to this thing almost daily for the last three months, so I can't wait to release it. If you like the later Maneige stuff we've done, or early After Crying, this concert is mandatory. Regards, Sean / ProgQuebec |
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smcfee
Forum Groupie Joined: May 18 2006 Status: Offline Points: 95 |
Posted: May 18 2006 at 23:17 | |
I would also like to make mention of the release by Charles Kaczynski, "Lumiere de la Nuit". This is one of the greatest releases of Quebec progressive rock ever. I know that sounds like a lot of hype, but I can't help it. Picture some of the folkier stuff like Engoulevent or the second Harmonium, but with small motifs combined into two side long suites ala Mike Oldfield, and you get an idea of what's on display here. Kaczynski, who was also a member of Conventum at one point, plays over 20 instruments on this album. You guys will go ape over this if you hear it, I am sure of it.
Regards, Sean / ProgQuebec |
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pierreolivier
Forum Senior Member Joined: August 31 2005 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 222 |
Posted: May 19 2006 at 00:33 | |
That's a very good news
Your company did a very good job reediting classics Quebec Prog albums.I have a couple of reissues (Contraction,Pollen) and your products are always good.
Since Sean is a member of this forum,I will take this opportunity to ask him a question.Do your company(ProgQuebec) plan to release other albums?The two albums that I would like to be released on cd are Franck Dervieux "Dimension M" who is supposed to be the blueprint of the Contraction sound (the majority of the musicians of Contraction plays on that album) and the other is Vos Voisins "Holocauste à Montréal".Those 2 albums can be considered the roots of Quebec progressive rock mouvement and even if they were not as influential as group like Harmonium and Maneige,it can be interesting to have these albums available on cd's.
Thanks a lot.
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Sean Trane
Special Collaborator Prog Folk Joined: April 29 2004 Location: Heart of Europe Status: Offline Points: 19752 |
Posted: May 19 2006 at 07:03 | |
There IS a god for atheist progheads like me !!
His name is ProgQuebec
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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
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Jimbo
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: February 28 2005 Location: Helsinki Status: Offline Points: 2818 |
Posted: May 19 2006 at 07:19 | |
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Sean Trane
Special Collaborator Prog Folk Joined: April 29 2004 Location: Heart of Europe Status: Offline Points: 19752 |
Posted: May 19 2006 at 07:20 | |
The idea of this thread was to speak of CONVENTUM
Edited by Sean Trane - May 19 2006 at 07:22 |
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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
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Jimbo
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: February 28 2005 Location: Helsinki Status: Offline Points: 2818 |
Posted: May 19 2006 at 07:27 | |
^^ I'm afraid I don't know their music yet, but they surely sound very interesting!
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smcfee
Forum Groupie Joined: May 18 2006 Status: Offline Points: 95 |
Posted: May 19 2006 at 11:23 | |
We are actually working to reissue both of these. Franck Dervieux could be out as early as September but it's more likely to be a 2007 release. Vos Voisins definitely will not be this year because we're having trouble tracking some of the guys down.
We also have some material by the pre-Maneige band Lasting Weep featuring Jerome and Alain (and also Mathieu Leger of Orchestre Sympathique / Conventum / Molignak), which is from 1969-1971 and is very proto-prog and somewhat like Tull due to Alain's flute.
Regards,
Sean
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avestin
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: September 18 2005 Status: Offline Points: 12625 |
Posted: May 19 2006 at 11:26 | |
YEAH! This has been quite a bad week, but this message has just softened it alot for me. Very good news. I will look for all those newly released Maneige albums. Oh yeah, and Conventum as well... |
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smcfee
Forum Groupie Joined: May 18 2006 Status: Offline Points: 95 |
Posted: May 19 2006 at 11:27 | |
One thing about Conventum that some people do not realize is that Charles Kaczynski was a full member of the band, not a guest. The Kozak booklet had him down as a guest but we corrected it for this release. One of the qualities of the first album is the presence of two violinists; Bernard Cormier and Charles. Charles can actually pick out what parts he played by ear twenty years later (maybe this is not so much of a surprise).
There is also an earlier lineup of Conventum who never released any material during their lifetime. This group is a bit more influenced by progressive rock than the experimental folk that came later. Andre thinks that he has some tapes somewhere that would be from this earlier group, and if he can find them we might really have something there.
Regards,
Sean / ProgQuebec |
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pierreolivier
Forum Senior Member Joined: August 31 2005 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 222 |
Posted: May 19 2006 at 14:35 | |
That's a great news,Thanks for your respond,Sean.
Yes,I heard the rumours that Jacques Perron, the keyboards player from "Vos Voisins" had left without leaving any trace.Some people said that he died.That's really sad.The rest of the band could also be difficult to track down since they are not part of the music industry anymore.I hear their album "Holocauste à Montéal" and it's a great album.It's also the first Quebec album that used mellotron, long before Harmonium who claim to be the first user in Quebec.They used the rare model,the M300 that belong to their friend and occasionnal employer at the time,Yvon Deschamps(the well known Quebec humorist).I was suprised that comedian Marcel Sabourin actually wrote all the lyrics from that album.That guy is still around and maybe he could help(with Mr.Deschamps)tracking some guys of the band,if it's not already made.
As for Franck Dervieux,I'm really happy that you will reissued the album on cd.I will buy it for sure.I will surely check out the Lasting Weep album too,seem interesting.
Thanks Sean and ProgQuebec!
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Sean Trane
Special Collaborator Prog Folk Joined: April 29 2004 Location: Heart of Europe Status: Offline Points: 19752 |
Posted: May 20 2006 at 08:00 | |
Although not Quebecois but Franco-Ontarians, I also added CANO on the Archives a few weeks ago (reviews of the first two albums coming up this week) and their first three albums are available as weel as a Best of
They are a lovely folk rock often reminding of the folkier Renaissance
Absolutely recommended also
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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
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Sean Trane
Special Collaborator Prog Folk Joined: April 29 2004 Location: Heart of Europe Status: Offline Points: 19752 |
Posted: May 20 2006 at 08:03 | |
as I only had the Kozak releases, I made the mistake also >> I will try to correct it though
Would be absolutely delighted if this Pre-Conventum tape could be made public, even if different
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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
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smcfee
Forum Groupie Joined: May 18 2006 Status: Offline Points: 95 |
Posted: May 20 2006 at 09:04 | |
Oh yeah, if there is something there we'll be very interested in it. Regards, Sean / ProgQuebec |
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The Rock
Forum Senior Member Joined: June 30 2005 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 746 |
Posted: May 20 2006 at 10:01 | |
Are you sure the third one ''Eclipse'' is out on CD?
Never seen it.
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What's gonna come out of my mouth is gonna come out of my soul."Skip Prokop"
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The Rock
Forum Senior Member Joined: June 30 2005 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 746 |
Posted: May 20 2006 at 11:49 | |
Now I don't get it.
Ville-Emard Blues Band,Laferière,Kaczsinsky,L'Orchestre Sympatique,Toubabou and Agharta aren't on PA!
WHY???
As for Yvon DesChamps having ties with Vos Voisins,it should also help that he lives in West-Mount,near the headquarters of ProgQuebec!
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What's gonna come out of my mouth is gonna come out of my soul."Skip Prokop"
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