SÉRIEUX OU PAS

Opus-5 's second album has an unfinihed feel to it and also an odds & ends touch. This is quite normal knowing that their record label Celebration (Harmonium had released their first two albums on that label) went bankrupt during the recording of this second album, so the recording got abruptly stopped , probably got seized as asset in the bankruptcy and this might explain why this did not get released until the very late 80's and probably released with not too much production job other than what was on tape at the time. I don't know for sure the exactitude of my reasoning but I must not be far from the truth.

Serieux Ou Pas has much shorter numbers than Contre Courant and while it has some very good moments , it does not have any epic of the style of Les Saigneurs or Temps des Piussenlits. Some of the numbers (the two super short numbers) were apparently recorded as inside jokes - probably not meant to be released (see my remark on the production) but those are not able to hide some of the more brilliant numbers that brings back memories from their debut. I may embroider the facts but I would like to trhink that some of these numbers were meant to be assembled together to make some longer tracks in the spirit of their first album. Who knows? But if you enjoy the first album , this one should please you but is less essential.

This is the second album from Canadian progrock band Opus-5. It's a varied album: beautiful classical piano and a blend of flute, electric - and acoustic guitar with a jazzy atmosphere (great rhythm-section) in "Provisoir", splendid Emersonian classical pianowork in "Subtil desir", powerful jazzrock in "Episode sur cette plage", Pulsar-like vocals, acoustic guitar and Styx-like synthesizers in "Serieus ou pas", Reves de voyages" and "Jouer chanter" and a folky/medieval climate featuring great interplay between violin and electric guitar in the final song "Pour boire il faut vendre". A pleasant album from the craddle of Prog Archives.

OPUS 5 were a short lived four piece band out of Quebec. Their debut from 1976 is simply a pleasure, ear candy as it were. It was a blend of Jazz and Symphonic much like this the followup and their final release. This second album was never released in 1977 like it should have been because their record company went bankrupt. So this was released in 1989 even though it's a 1977 recording. It doesn't measure up to the debut in my opinion but these guys just have a sound that I really enjoy. The flute is prominent along with wordless vocal expressions and vocals. Lots of piano so when the guitar does come to the spotlight it has a greater affect. Synths are usually to create a spacey atmosphere.

The two tracks that stood out for me were first "Y'a Des Choses Dans L'air" for the excellent contrasts of mellow and more upfront sound. The title track for it's fragile vocals with piano and flute. A moving piece. The band may have only been together for a couple of years but man the music lives on. I used to keep a copy of their debut in my glove box in the car that's how much I liked it.