HARMONIUM EN TOURNÉE

I finally tracked down this recording, a live version of Serge Fiori's masterpiece double album, L'Heptade, released after the breakup of Harmonium. I had figured it would be pretty close to the original, so I wasn't in any real hurry to get it, but I was pleasantly surprised at the variations on this album. L'Heptade had orchestrated bits by composer Neil Chotem linking the songs, which obviously are not present here. On this recording, the band is revealed to be a tight, jazzy ensemble capable of some remarkably funky playing, particularly the rhythm section, which is killer. The band is also capable of wonderful subletly on the more profound acoustic numbers, and Fiori's incredibly expressive, emotional vocal style comes across, if anything, better on this album than on the original studio recording. Some songs are extended to give room for piano, synth and guitar solos that are virtuosic and interesting. Fiori and Monique Fauteux also do some great scatting, sometimes as a duet. This live version is basically a leaner, more direct version of the original piece that provides a different perspective on the songs, and will certainly be very welcome to the ears of anyone who loved L'Heptade. In my opinion, L'Heptade is a work of great emotional impact and is certainly one of the most memorable landmarks in the history of progressive music.