LES PORCHES

There is much injustice in this world. In the world of music and particularly in the realm of progressive music one such injustice is the anonymity and lack of appreciation towards this brilliant Quebecois band and its beautiful and excellent albums. Les Porches is an album that should be owned by any progressive music lover, as it is such an amazing album that will surely be adored by everyone who listens to it. Melodies are beautiful and incorporate within them several styles (classical music, jazz, rock). Comprised of two lengthy tracks one of which is a short tune and the other is an ending "regular" length track.

What talent. To create such a beautiful chamber music resembling a small symphonic piece filled with instruments such as flute, clarinet, piano, xylophone, trombone and at the end of the track the guitars, saxophone, drums and vocals join in. Including 5 chapters, this magnificent masterpiece revolves around a musical theme presented at the beginning and which is developed and more layers and musical ideas are added to it. It is not strictly classical music, but also has a folk sound to it as well as more jazz rock at the end of the track when the band resumes modern instrumentation and plays their hearts out. The vocal at the end are powerful and moving, filled with sorrow and make me feel hopeful and sad at the same time. The saxophone solo at the end is a brilliant tour de force accompanied by the rest of the band's exquisite performance. On the second track they create a short but good classical-like tune with their wide range of instruments. The 3rd track is more in the jazz rock field with the clarinet getting in the beginning its rightful place in the center as does the xylophone later on. This track has too 5 chapters and has as well a musical theme that is presented and then taken even further on musically and improvised on. More musical themes are introduced as the music carries on. The choice of instruments here is one of the highlights of this musical piece. The 4th track continues in a way the previous one and shows more of the band's chamber music abilities.

This album has different musical styles and is so rich in sound that you feel as if you've been through a long musical road and experienced a much lengthier record than you actually did. Maneige has an ability to take musical ideas and develop them and do an excellent musical arrangement in terms of instrumentation. I can't praise enough this groups talent and abilities. Therefore it is very regrettable that they are not very known. It is a pity, since this album in particular is one of the finest pieces of music available.

More than just an excellent addition to your collection - a must album!