SI ON AVAIT BESOIN D'UNE CINQUIÈME SAISON

This album revived my desire to discover new prog. I go in phases of seeking out new artists and albums and then listening to those I have and adding nothing new. Finding Harmonium sparked my greatest prog collecting period since I first got into it several years ago.

The album is mostly elaborate folk music. But because it is from French-Canada (where there is a rich tradition of local folk music) the sound is unique. This album is often celebrated as one of the finest transition albums ever. I don't really like the terminology because it implies that transition albums have a lower ceiling for potential greatness. I do agree that it is an obvious link between there first and third albums, but the songwriting is stellar enough to simply call it one of prog's finest albums. I strongly recommend this album, especially to those who are hesitant to listen to music outside of their language. I hold a small but marked preference for lyrics in English, but at this point I've actually taken to trying to sing along with the French, and even had a French friend of mine translate the lyrics for me.

I think the greatest aspect of this album is that while it does borrow from the progressive rock techniques bag it has a sound that is uniquely from Harmonium. They were less interested in finding a niche of prog or employing particular traits of progressive rock and more interested in just writing an album that reflected their musicianship and muscial tastes. The band is well known in Quebec and were playing to that audience more than imitating other prog styles in order to reach a more global audience. This authenticity is apparent and Harmonium fans are grateful for the band's dedication to their own sound.