OCTOBRE

3.5 stars really!!!

Octobre's debut album came as a slap in the face to almost everyone in Quebec in late 72. Recorded at Studio Six, but spartanly produced and enveloped in the blandest artwork possible, the quartet (your standard prog line-up with the keyboardist as the singer) was made up of a pair of cousins (Flynn and Dorais) and their longtime buddy bassist Légaré came from high-school blues rock groups Gladstone and Maelstrom. Behind the song format "à la chanson française", there were some real superb musicianship (usually not expected in that genre), a very "rock feel" and some incredibly thoughtful text from Pierre Flynn that had the lyrical and philosophical depth of the greatest Jacques Brel or Brassens. Indeed, kids identified a lot to those lyrics that sweated the asphalt and transpired vandalized bus stops, reeked of boondocks apartment buildings, soaked of hot city nights etc. It just talked to them just as if it was themselves thinking it. Aside from Octobre, the only other group that managed this IMHO was Harmonium, even if the later was much more ideal and hippy dream. Flynn's text were written mostly as a teen ager and later in his life would cause him a it of awkwardness as he was an adult

Those lyrics really absorbed a big part of the attention paid to Octobre, but Hebert's drumming was always excellent, Légaré's bass sinuous and fluid at wish, Dorais's guitar always discreet when needed and blistering when expected. But more than anything, Octobre was Pierre Flynn's cargo ship for the truckloads of ideas he came up with, both musical (he was the main composer and a very good keyboardist) and lyrical (he was the singer).

From the opening organ line of their first single Si On Partait (if we left) to the closing of future hit single La Maudite Machine (damn machine >> the society), you will subjected to great music, with plenty of prog characteristics, but you shouldn't expect flashy virtuoso solos or extended intros and outros. The music is at the service of the song and texts, but let that not deter you either: there is plenty to hear for the proghead.

From the opening "if we left" segueing Ca Prends Presque Rien (it takes next to nothing. to become alienated) than sidestepping for the weaker Dans Ma Ville (describing the urban hell to be fled), then into Les Vivants (the alive ones., which depicts those who are not or faking it) and on the flipside Viens Vivre (come live), you can see the the way the "thematic subject was heading for. A rather accurate if a bit cruel description of our bleak future that one just had to avoid serving La Maudite Machine, which swallows innocence, chews life and spits out wasted lives.

Octobre's music is of course very much axed towards the French lyrics,, so it is rather hard to really recommend the group to those who don't have a good mastery of the language, but the texts alone are interesting enough to want to learn the language. A real classic, although I wouldn't call it all that essential for progheads, unless having lived the plight sung by Octobre.

I don't care how proggie this is, it's amazingly beautiful music. Singer-songwriter Pierre Flynn sounds like a man invested in his music: like a cross between Jacques Brel and Ευστράτιος Δημητρίου (Dimitrio Stratos).

1. "Si on partait" (2:34) organ and gently picked electric guitar are supported by bass and drums as Pierre Flynn sings his heart out. The choral chorus is intriguingly gentle and delicate. A very competent rock song as if from some of the masters of the late 1960s. (8.5/10)

2. "Ça prend presque rien" (4:06) brooding piano arpeggi support the heart-wrenching solo vocal of Pierre Flynn. Wow, is he powerful! I can only imagine seeing him perform live, in concert! Must be an emotionally draining experience. His voice has the power and presence of Dimitrio Stratos! And the music beneath is absolutely perfect in a Motown/Temptations kind of way. But what a vocal performance! Three minutes in we move into a blues-jazzy organ solo with perfect support from bassist mario Légaré and drummer Pierre Hebert. My favorite song on the album--and that's saying a lot! (10/10)

3. "Dans ma ville" (3:12) sounds very much like a Jacques Brel song were Jacques to have adopted to a more rock/prog rock lineup of instruments (electric guitar, clavichord, electric bass, rock drums). (8.5/10)

4. "Les vivants" (4:20) a gorgeous and not-so-simple chord progression opens another song over which Pierre delivers yet another powerful vocal performance--a bit like Serge Fiori and a slightly tamer Dimitrio Stratos. Nice bluesy-rock lead guitar performance over Pierre's clavichord-dominated keys during quite an unusually extended instrumental section. Almost a top three song. (8.75/10)

5. "Viens vivre" (3:00) sounds as if it comes from a Broadway musical with its full-band overture opening and support of the choral delivery of the lyrics. But, then, surprise, there is a dramatic shift to a gorgeous and dreamy passage with more spread among the vocalists. Really tight instrumental performances--very much like a professional pit orchestra at a theater. A great song. Another top three for me. (9/10)

6. "Au fond de tes yeux" (4:19) Another gorgeous song that feels as if it could have come from a stage rock opera like Godspell. The extended chorus outro is a bit long, but, otherwise, another great song. My other top three song. (9.25/10)

7. "Bonjour" (3:01) Pierre's voice over the organ-led rock combo is a little pitchy--a little too lax. Still, this guy can write powerful songs! And what a great drummer is Pierre Hebert! And guitarist Jean Dorais is no slouch. (8.75/10)

8. "La maudite machine" (4:02) opens like a classic rock song from the late 1960s--perhaps The Animals and Eric Burden. Probably my least favorite song on the album--and it's still powerful! (8/10)

Total Time 28:34

As Sean Trane wrote in his review of this album, the prog lover will not be disappointed with these songs due to the presence of enough prog instruments but also because the songs are so powerful and beautiful. There is also quite a little feel of the politico-religious" rock operas of the time like Hair, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Godspell.

As masterful as this collection of great songs is, the short 28+ minute length provides some issues for in regards to assigning a rating. I want to give it five stars so badly--these are incredible songs!--but . . .