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 . . .