DEUX CENTS NUITS À L'HEURE

Québecois folk sensations Serge Fiori (HARMONIUM) and Richard Séguin (SÉGUIN) began a brief collaboration in 1976 which resulted in Richard's participation on Harmonium's last studio album L'Heptade (November 1976) and then this award-winning hit album, released in 1978.

1. "Deux cents nuits à l'heure" (8:22) pop Country-Western; not very proggy at all. (17/20)

2. "Ça fait du bien" (8:31) more like what one comes to expect from anything involving Serge Fiori. (17.75/20)

3. "Illusion" (7:30) more dynamic and prog rocky than the previous two songs--though it does get a little EAGLES-like at times. The finish (final 90 seconds) is by far the best part--perhaps the best thing on the album. (13.25/15)

4. "Viens danser" (6:04) light and bouncy Fender Rhodes backs Serge's melodic vocal. Apparently, this song was quite the hit in French-speaking countries at the time--probably helping to propel the album to it's "Album of the Year" Félix prize at the first annual Gala de l'ADISQ. Infectious Latin rhythms and melody quite similar to those that would render Joe Jackson's "Cancer" a minor hit in 1982. (8.875/10)

5. "Chanson pour Marthe" (4:26) the lead vocal here sounds so fragile with its DONOVAN "Hurdy Gurdy Man" exaggerated vibrato. Again, radio-friendly pop schlopp is what this sounds and feels like, not Prog Folk. (8.6667/10)

6. "La moitié du monde" (6:34) French Billy Joel anyone? A very emotional song construct--one that is obviously intended to pull hearstrings. (8.75/10)

7. "La guitare des pays d'en haut" (6:14) more jazz-tinged pop music in the TOTO/STEELY DAN vein. Polished, professional, and highly engaging. Gino and Joe Vannelli would be impressed. (9/10)

Total Time 47:43

B-/3.5 stars; a wonderful collection of expert song-crafting that is, unfortunately, not as prog-worthy as one might be led to believe: To my ears, the music encapsulated in this album is more pop-oriented than true folk or prog folk, thus my down-rating.