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Harmonium, L'Heptade XL
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fronobulax View Drop Down
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Points: 44 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote fronobulax Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Harmonium, L'Heptade XL
    Posted: July 25 2019 at 20:00
Hi,
 Being from Canada, I was always happy that Harmonium's second album was ranked so highly on this great site. I have no idea how this one slipped by me after all these decades. 
 Recently I had read somewhere that the original tapes had been found, and that the band had remixed and re-released this gem. A double album concept regarding the emotional journey of the average day is married to gorgeous symphonic instrumentation. L'Heptade somehow also manages to emulate a fragile intimacy, the floorboards creaking in the farmhouse, the vocals suspended and cracking with feeling. 
 I speak enough French to get the lyrics, and they are incredible as well, which really makes this double album work. No cheese, all emotion. I am thinking of trying to pull together what might be the first English translation, unless anyone else out there is better qualified. I believe that this new "XL" edition has the first full printing of the French lyrics. 
 Anyhoo, it's a masterpiece, so I bought the vinyl. Any other lovers for this new remix out there? 
 This is an album that NEEDS to be more widely heard. You will love it!
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Barbu View Drop Down
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Points: 30855 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Barbu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 26 2019 at 00:30
Masterpiece, no doubt about it. The remix is fantastic and the one you should get.

Edited by Barbu - August 05 2019 at 10:37
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noni View Drop Down
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This is a great re-master Wink

Highly recommended.Smile
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Howard the Duck View Drop Down
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Points: 168 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Howard the Duck Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 03 2019 at 13:35
I like some tracks on the album but feel there's a lot of padding and that it pales in comparison to their 2nd album (and may even be weaker than the debut for me). I have yet to hear the remaster though.
MacGyver can do a super guitar solo with a broom and an elastic band. Can you do better?
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Sean Trane View Drop Down
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Points: 20686 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sean Trane Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 03 2019 at 16:31
Originally posted by fronobulax fronobulax wrote:

Hi,
 Being from Canada, I was always happy that Harmonium's second album was ranked so highly on this great site. I have no idea how this one slipped by me after all these decades. 
 Recently I had read somewhere that the original tapes had been found, and that the band had remixed and re-released this gem. A double album concept regarding the emotional journey of the average day is married to gorgeous symphonic instrumentation. L'Heptade somehow also manages to emulate a fragile intimacy, the floorboards creaking in the farmhouse, the vocals suspended and cracking with feeling. 
 I speak enough French to get the lyrics, and they are incredible as well, which really makes this double album work. No cheese, all emotion. I am thinking of trying to pull together what might be the first English translation, unless anyone else out there is better qualified. I believe that this new "XL" edition has the first full printing of the French lyrics. 
 Anyhoo, it's a masterpiece, so I bought the vinyl. Any other lovers for this new remix out there? 
 This is an album that NEEDS to be more widely heard. You will love it!


L'Heptade is Harmonium's third album, not the second, and IMHO, their weaker one, because they overtstretched themselves in those boring (and poor/amateur) symphonic passages and those meaningless Martenot thingies.


As for the XL reissue, I suppose you mean the one with the blue (instead or red) clouds, right?? It's nor reacent (some 2 or 3 years), but AFAIK, all the issues of that album always included the lyrics.
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Sean Trane View Drop Down
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Points: 20686 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sean Trane Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 09 2019 at 09:10
wow, Fronobulax, didn't mean to shoot this conversation down , so sorry if you felt that way.
 
Hug


Edited by Sean Trane - August 09 2019 at 09:12
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Barbu View Drop Down
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Points: 30855 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Barbu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 09 2019 at 10:11
You haven't shoot it down since it never really started...and the reason why I've edited my post to strict minimum.
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