Progquebec

1969-1971 (2007). Of the first of Lasting Weep's two posthumous releases of, this one is actually the only one that could be regarded as their only testament, made from five recording sessions between 1969 and 1971, two of them for soundtracks to films or images. LW was made up of future Quebecois greats flutist/saxophonist Bergeron and multi-instrumentalist Langlois (both future Maneige), drummer Mathieu Leger (future Conventum and l'Orchestre Sympathique) and bassist Chapleau (found as a session musician on a lot of 70's records). Apparently these archives were found in one of musician's attic; and most thankfully these tapes can be finally made public…

This Quebecois band has three phases. First came the psych period under which they were known as Morse Code Transmission and made two psych albums in 71 & 72 sung in English. The second phase saw their names shortened and with the Quebec prog explosion under way decided to switch to French singing. The three albums that followed are real gems of progressive music oscillating between Genesis and Barclay James Harvest but the French texts (sometimes highly impressive) gave them a sound of their own. They disbanded, as the disco wave became a Tsunami in La Belle Province only to reform in 83 to make a best-forgotten English-sung album and again in 95 for a much better one again in French.

Jacques Tom Rivest - s/t (1979)
reissue of 2006
EAC | FLAC tracks +CUE +LOG +600 dpi Full Scans = 286 Mb | RAR 3% | RS
Genre: Progressive Rock / Prog-Folk | Label: ProgQuebec | Catalog Number: MPM16

…not exactly prog per se, but proggish, with a good selection of songs…

After a very, very long time quiet, ProgQuebec have returned for one last hurrah with this excellent archival release, which was issued in a limited quantity. Like many of the other bands during Quebec’s golden age of progressive rock, there is a lot of influence from the major UK names and also a lot of influence from Gentle Giant (who, admittedly, were more popular in Quebec than they were in the USA)..

Sloche got their names from the dirty snow amassed in the streets (sleet or slush) but in the Quebec form. Sloche is one of those incredible bands from Quebec progressive explosion of the mid-70's that sadly only managed two albums. They sound like a cross of Mahavishnu Orchestra, a bit of Gentle Giant but mostly like their compatriot the incredible Maneige or the emotional Opus-5. Both their albums are absolutely successful, the former being slightly more symphonic than the second being more fusion. The lyrics are sung in French but they are not to present and do not have too strong Quebec intonations (accent). If you like the above-mentioned groups and are not afraid of a little adventure this is highly recommended.

Offenbach emerged in 1970 from the transformation of various bands throughout the 60's, the last being "Les Gants Blancs" lead by the Boulet brothers who were then inspired by the psychedelia of the times and artists like Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin. The lineup is then comprised of Gerry Boulet (keyboard & vocals), Jean Johnny Gravel (guitars), Michel "Willie" Lamothe Jr (bass) and Denis Boulet, who left the band after the first record to be replaced on drums by Roger (Wézo) Belval. That year they meet with musician, poet and filmmaker Pierre Harel whom they integrated to the band as singer and author, and would then release the soundtrack to his movie "Bulldozer" in 1973…

Maneige - Live A L'eveche - 1975 (2005)
EAC | FLAC tracks +CUE +LOG +600 dpi Full Scans = 440 Mb | RAR 3% | RS
Genre: Progressive Rock | Label: ProgQuebec | Catalog Number: MPM07

The entire November 22nd, 1975 concert at l'Eveche (Hotel Nelson, Old Montreal) takes up the bulk of this release. Most of the recordings from this concert have remained unreleased ever since CKVL-FM simultaneously broadcast the show on air. Two more pieces appear as bonus tracks from a previous CKVL-FM live broadcast from January 6th, 1974.

Maneige - Les Porches Live (2006)
EAC | FLAC tracks +CUE +LOG +600 dpi Full Scans = 364 Mb | RAR 3% | RS
Genre: Progressive Rock | Label: ProgQuebec | Catalog Number: MPM15

***** Wow, After having been so long out of CD offerings Maneige is quite Quebec's newer attraction with a second posthumous live album, making it the fourth in their career. After 78's Composite (mostly then-new tracks) and 98' Live 74-75 album on Fonodisc featuring pre-debut album live recordings (ant two never-available-before tracks) and last year' "live a l'eveche" (which took the entire 98 recordings and added more tracks with some yet unreleased-before tracks). ProgQuebec is unleashing this superb release with yet another unreleased track!!……….

Those people aware of one of Quebec's seminal group Contraction (which came from Frank Dervieux's heritage), should be aware of bassist Laferrière's important role in the group. While not the only person carrying the group, he was actually a bit surprising that he would be the only ex-Contraction member to release solo albums (there is a second one dating from the 80's), but this solo album is much worthy of the proghead's ear.
Graced with a star-studded guest (from Harmonium to Orchestre Sympathique and from Pollen to Conventum), the album develops a JR/F that is not that far from what Contraction was doing. This feeling is reinforced with ex-Contraction vocalist Monique Fauteux laying out her vocals generously throughout the album…