OÙ EST PASSÉE LA NOCE?

3.5 stars really!!

Quebec's only other group to achieve monumental success ala Harmonium in the 70's was the quintet Beau Dommage, but to call them progressive rock is probably overdoing things, even if their second album Où Est Passé La Noce has two tracks (including the 20- mins+ Incident) that qualifies as "prog", which contrast rather heavily with their country- tinged folk rock. This album followed the footsteps of its self-titled predecessor, but sold even (considerably) more, with again some 4 singles taken from the album hitting the market.

The album's A-side is almost exclusively made of short songs in the country/folk rock with the odd jazz styling ala Steely Dan, and the fairly neutral French texts, by sung in the typical Quebecois-style by the lovely voice of Michele Desrosiers and the much more accented Michel Rivard. These tracks are of no great interest to progheads even if at the end of the vinyl side the short Bon Débarras (good riddance) finishes in an excellent prog movement where the classical influences take over. This seems to spark up a bit of a mood as the next (and longer) Heureusement, the song seems to grab more depth, but no real sparks flying yet.

On the flipside, the 20-mins+ Incident A Bois-Filion is relating a tragic event that created a shock some years back. The song alternates between country/folk rock and more symphonic moments, somewhat ogling (but not daring to imitate) at Harmonium, but this is faint especially that the two styles developed never melt or mingle, they just live alongside. At times we also think of a less jazzy Contraction. There are some five instrumental passages where Rivard's guitar grabs its rare chance at showing its chops, and we almost hate the cheesy string arrangements cutting it to steer the track back in its tracks.

With this second album, BD is at the apex of its success, but they will record a few more excellent-selling albums, but none will have the "prog tinge" of La Noce. Unless you're really into Québecois rock, BD's discography is of limited interest (but all albums have seen CD reissues) to progheads, and only this one should be called good but hardly essential.

Translation: Pretty Damage.

Aah, that tongue-in-cheek humor starting with the name of the band, and all the fantastic lyrics about love, death, friendship, heartbreaks, being bored in your every day life and of course: 'doing it'. Beau Dommage is fueling on the greats of the era (Yes, Gentle Giant and Jethro Tull) for that titanesque Incident a Bois-des-Fillion that closes magnificiently a way above average album. Rivard is launching Yes riffs like it's nothing, proving that the band can not only do pop, but also coherent prog like it's Monday morning. The vocals are (as always) a miracle in it's own right, 3 voices (2 guys 1 girl) blending perfectly, only topped by the Beatles themselves.

If you can get the lyrics translated, they are hilarious in some parts, but always true to real life. They always had that knack of saying things tactfully without repeating the same old clichés in so many love songs. They go directly to your heart, coating it with a fuzzy feeling of being home and consoled by your loved ones.

Many other highlights are in shorter length: Amène pas ta gang could easily pass for a poppish Gentle Giant and Bon Débarras is a very potent instrumental in the good ol' 70's Italian tradition. This band is considered intouchable in Quebec, a monument of lyrical beauty and artistic strenght, by kids who never knew they were that good!

Giants without being pretentious, poets without getting snobby. Intouchable.

By no means a band close to the likes of Quebec Folk/Prog, Beau Dommage was a rather poppy but extremely popular Folk Rock act back in the 70's, formed in 1972 by guitarist/singer Michel Rivard, flutist/pianist Robert Leger and lyricist Pierre Huet, soon to be joined by bassist Pierre Bertrand, female singer Marie Michèle Desrosiers and drummer Real Desrosiers (no relation between the two though).Beau Dommage became famous already from their self-titled debut from 1974, released on Capitol.By their second album Michel Hinton had joined the band on piano (having played with Rivard and Bertrand in La Famille Casgrain in late-60's) and their sophomore work ''Ou est passée la noce?'', recorded at Studio Tempo in Montreal between March and July of 1975, sees the light again on Capitol.

First side showcases what was already expected by a group such as Beau Dommage: Harmonic Folk Pop/Rock with sweet melodies and dreamy tunes, based on piano and acoustic guitars, a bit reminiscent of CANO and flirting often with Country Music.A couple of pieces though escape from this basic rule, like the excellent instrumental ''Bon debarras'', which is pure and intricate Prog Rock with a slight FOCUS vibe in the jazzy guitar interludes and heavy flute and keyboard parts close to JETHRO TULL and GENTLE GIANT, or the longer and very poetic ''Heureusement qu'il y a la nuit'', which remains poppy overall, but certainly bursts a more atmospheric and dramatic approach by the group.Then comes the flipside to put things in another level with the 20-min. suite ''Un incident a Bois-des-Filion'', the first and last attempy by the group to produce music close to the monumental style of Canadian Prog Folk.This tracks comes as a combination of L'ENGOULEVENT with CONNIVENCE, next to some MANEIGE touches at moments, exploring the more dense side of Folk Rock, drawing influences from more theatrical music styles and eventually balancing the acoustic passages with refined electric tunes, offering an elaborate Progressive Rock with folky and symphonic leanings.Very good parts with Classical inspirations, smooth but very intense interplays, singing Pop sensibilities and a nice bunch of electric solos with ethereal, rural melodies around combine for a beautiful piece of artistic Rock music with a memorable atmosphere.

Beau Dommage produced a couple of more albums, returning to their more accesible Folk Rock side and finally disbanding in 1978.Almost all members followed decent to succesful solo careers, while the group was reformed in a few occasions, mainly for live shows.

While Beau Dommage will never be considered as a strong represenative of the Quebec Prog scene, ''Ou est passée la noce?'' is definitely a work to be discovered by Prog fans.Melodic and mellow folky Prog Music with interesting arrangements, especially on its 20-min. epic track.Recommended.