LE BUREAU CENTRAL DES UTOPIES

3.5 stars. CONVENTUM were a Chamber music/Folk band out of Quebec who released two studio albums during the second half of the seventies. This is their second and final release from 1979. They are down to a four piece as the poet and one of the three acoustic guitarists has left. Down to one guest as well, who plays flute on that second track. Now compare that lineup to the 15 musicians/singers that were on their debut. Stripped down for sure plus the music is more serious. More academic, as this comes across as a much more mature work, but not better in my opinion.

They would play their final concert at Laval University in Quebec City in January of 1980. Meanwhile Chris Cutler in England finds a copy of their debut and contacts the band about being on the RER Record label he was running, but they had no copies left to sell. So Chris did the next best thing and released one of their songs on the "The Recommended Sampler 1982". I have that one and it's track five on the second disc called "Commerce Nostalgique" the last track written by Duchesne under the name CONVENTUM. It's a bonus track on my edition here.

I do like that there's a uniform sound to this album but it lacks the fire and adventure of the debut. "Le Reel Des Elections" is the under 3 minute opener that sounds like a jig, very catchy with violin leading. The flute is on that second track "Ateliers I & V" which is quite sparse sounding, lots of acoustic guitar. "Choregraphie Lunaire" opens with experimental sounds, no melody until the acoustic guitar arrives around a minute, violin too. My favourite part on the whole album is that sound after 7 minutes.

We actually get some drums on "La Belle Apparence" and it's uptempo and short at over 2 minutes. Mandolin on this one as well. The violin puts on a show on "Fanfare". "Trois Petits Pas" is very classical sounding. Some clapping on "Le Reel A Mains", very folky with fast paced violin. The closer has male vocals to open and close it, and it's the longest piece at over 10 minutes.

A good album that is maybe more chamber than folk but it certainly has both. I'll stick with their debut, an album that was love at first listen. This is an impressive work, but not nearly as entertaining.