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Review Summary: This is one of the best prog albums from Quebec in the 70’s. It has all the main elements of the best prog albums released outside the of U.K. scene. “La Marche Des Hommes” is the third studio album of Morse Code and was released in 1975. The line up on the album is Daniel Lemay, Christian Simard, Michel Vallée and Raymond Roy.
The progressive rock scene in Anglophone Canada during the 70’s wasn’t particularly robust. Rush is the most well known band to attempt to apply English progressive sensibility to their sound. On the contrary, for Francophone’s, was given a huge welcome to the progressive rock. It’s very curious how English progressive rock became most popular in Canada in the Province of Quebec where most people speak French. Certainly, that is why many of those bands chose to sing in French, thus creating a platform that made French lyrics acceptable and even desirable.
So, it was in that context that appeared in the 70’s many progressive rock bands in Quebec like Offenbach, Morse Code Transmission (latter Morse Code), Octobre, Contraction, Et Cetera, Pollen, Incubus (latter ExCubus), L’Orchestre Sympatique, Conventum, Toubabou, Harmonium, Garolou, Sloche and Maneige.
Morse Code is one of the best Quebecois prog bands of the 70’s, alongside with Harmonium, Pollen and Maneige. Their origin goes back to 1967, when bassist Vallée and drummer Roy founded Les Maîtres. Following the recruitment of keyboardist and singer Simard in 1968, and then Jocelyn Julien on guitar, the band made their first steps performing rehearsals for The Beatles and The Bee Gees. Turning cheerfully in all the trendy clubs of his city and province, the combo begins to forge its own repertoire, and modifies their patronymic in Morse Code Transmission at the request of their record company which publishes, in 1971, their first eponymous debut album. This opus is a collection of short and commercial plays, sung in English. Continuing in this direction, after the replacement of Julien by Bernard Tapin, the band offers in 1972 a double album “Morse Code Transmission II”. But, it was not until 1975 that the group really took off under the shortened name of Morse Code with the superb “La Marche Des Hommes”, entirely sung in French.
In short, in 1971, the group in those times called Morse Code Transmission, released their debut album without much notice. After a second album in the following year, the band temporarily disappeared for some years. This belonged to their first musical phase, the psycho phase, with two albums sung in English. But in 1975 they were back again, now just named Morse Code and had evolved into a full blown symphonic prog rock group inspired quite a lot by Genesis. But they avoided the usual clone syndrome, mainly because singer, keyboardist and main songwriter Christian Simard didn’t sound like Peter Gabriel at all. The vocals are more in the vein of the French band Atoll, although the language itself, of course, also contributes to that, because on this second phase the lyrics and the singing are all in French.
About the tracks, “La Marche Des Hommes” is best known for its epic 11 minute title track and the instrumental “Cocktail”. The later one was released on a single and became a hit in Quebec. Musically, it blends melodic mellotron and flute with some funky keyboard work. The title track shows impressive songwriting skills from Simard, often with the instrumental and vocal sections based partly in the same themes, giving the track a feel of continuity despite its complexity and many chord changes. This is the great highlight on the album. “Le Pays D’Or” is a ballad with one of the finest melodies, featuring some unusually authentic sounding mellotron strings. This one is followed by “La Cérémonie De Minuit” where Simard further shows clear influences from Tony Banks in his keyboard playing. “Cocktail” is a great instrumental piece of music. “Une Goutte De Pluie” is the band in really laidback and relaxed mood, pleasant and moody. “Qu’Est-Ce Que T’As Compris?” is quite the opposite, showing their upbeat and rocking side, but still wrapped up in the same symphonic progressive arrangements as the rest of the songs. The album ends with “Problème”, a grandiose ballad but with a modest length at only two minutes, which was a pity that it was not a bit bigger than it is.
Conclusion: “La Marche Des Hommes” is an impressive statement for Morse Code. Leaving in the past their psych influences, Morse Code return in mid 70’s with a bright symphonic prog album with careful guitar work, intelligent vocal parts, dominant organ sounds and some mellotron touches, not far from what Genesis, Ange and many other prog bands were creating a few years earlier. This is an excellent example of Quebecois symphonic progressive rock music. “La Marche Des Hommes” contains all the right moves and all of the elements sure to please any 70’s progressive rock fan. The music was highly influenced by Genesis but with that French influence getting compared with the likes of Ange. The vocals are all in French. In fact, if you are a fan of such prog bands coming from France like Ange, Mona Lisa or Atoll, you won’t have any problem in warming up to this album. It’s a highly recommended album for all prog lovers.
Music was my first love.
John Miles (Rebel)
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Album Rating: 4.0
After having reviewed the two albums of Pollen in last January, I decided to return to the Quebecois prog scene with another great album made in the 70's. In reality, it was Jethro who gave me the idea. Then, he challenged me to review this album because he loves it. Finally, I decided to rescue another album of the dust of time. So, here it's the review. I sincerelly hope that you can enjoy the album as I do.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
"Morse Code is one of the best Quebecois prog bands of the 70’s, alongside with Harmonium, Pollen or Maneige."
- should be "and"
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Should be "and" is.
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Interesting read, e. Thanks.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
You're welcome and thanks, Diva.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
You make my day, bro! Album deserved a review, and thanks for doing so. According to Progarchives and also to me, this is the best Morse Code album. They're rather inspired by Genesis and the French band Ange on here. My 2nd favorite album, Procréation is closer to the style of Yes. The bass is always prominent and punchy in their music. Je suis Le Temps et D'Un Autre Monde are also great albums, even if they started to inject a few pop flavours in those ones. I don't know about the rest of their discog.
About La Marche Des Hommes, what prevents me of giving it a classic status is ''Une Goutte De Pluie'', song has nothing too special and it breaks the flow. And I would like ''Problème'' to be more developed. It sounds so promising, but it only lasts 2 minutes, wtf. I absolutely love all the rest of the album. Great symphonic prog right there.
By the way, sad coincidence, songwriter, keyboardist and singer Christian Simard passed away exactly one year ago (december the 10th 2016) of an aggressive cancer. Song ''Le Pays d'Or'' fits accurately for him since it talks about heaven with brillant lyrics. RIP Christian.
Good job on the review e21 bro.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
I'm very glad you liked the review. I knew that you would be very happy by someone cover this album finally.
Yeah, I also saw that on Progarchives. For what I read, this one and "Procréation" are the best. It seems that some prefer more "Procréation" because they say that is more prog, since is a conceptual album. I don't know. As you know, before, I only knew the name of the band. So, I only listened "La Marche Des Hommes", until now, and this was because your defiance. Still, I intend to listen "Procréation" and even "Je Suis Le Temps", in its time.
About "La Marche Des Hommes", basically I agree with you. ''Une Goutte De Pluie'' is the Achilles' heel of the album and it's really a pity that ''Problème'' was not further developed. Besides that, the title track is its great highlight and the rst of the album is great and very well balanced.
Yeah, I had read this about the death of Simard when I made my researches about the band, but I didn't remember the date. Another great artist sadly passed away. Unfortunatelly, many other names will be mentioned by the same reasons in the next years as we saw in last years. The age my friend, the age. RIP Christian.
Thanks, my friend.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Nice to see his album reviewed here. It was nice that was you that reviewed it to. All who loves the classic prog of the classical era, loved it, not only Jethro. Nice review, man. Have a pos.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
I don't know if Procréation is a concept album, but one thing is sure, there are recurring themes such as the seasons, heaven, and even reincarnation in the epic suite Procréation which is worth the price of admission on its own. There are couple of ''individual'' instrumental tracks too, and couple of songs that don't seem to be a part of any concept. Album is on youtube but songs are all reversed, the last song is the first, etc.
I prefer La Marche Des Hommes for its creativity, for its consistency (minus ''Une Goutte de Pluie''). Album also rocks hard, and it's more compact than the more spacey Procréation. ''La Marche Des Hommes'' the song really moves me. It builds and builds and contains incredible atmospheres and climaxes. Song reminds me of Genesis' ''The Knife'' at some points, but no rip offs there.
Je Suis Le Temps has its highlights too, and it's also on youtube. D'Un Autre Monde seems to be harder to find, sadly, but I have a physical copy of it, of La Marche Des Hommes, and The Greatest Hits (Les Grands Succès De Morse Code) too.
It saddens me that your review don't get many visits, and it's not the first time. Proggers are too busy here and there, and/or French prog music leave the sputnik proggers cold, who knows. At least, Morse Code has a review of their best album. Kudos for that.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Thanks Intruder for your kind words. I'm very flattered with them.
Cheers.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
Welcome to the club, Intruder!
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Thanks for your precise informations about both albums. Surely I will listen both when comes the time. Maybe I will review both, too. Who knows. But for the next months I have other very precise plans. You'll see.
"It saddens me that your review don't get many visits, and it's not the first time."
No problem with it, I'm used with that already. And of course French, Portuguese, and some other languages don't help very much, too. This is essencially a site of Anglophones. Besides, an almost unknown prog album from the 70's, doesn't help, very much, too.
But, for me, is very important to bring to the light of the day these great prog gems from the past. I intend to do the same with many of those albums, very soon.
However, we mustn't forget this isn't only a music site used by Sputnik members. Many other users all over the world use it daily, wchich was my case before I became a full member. For instance, pratically all my reviwesreviews have more than 1.000 views and some of them are close to 4.000 views. I'm very happy and very comfortable with it. So, I think I'm not losing my time here on Sputnik.
Thanks for your support my friend.
Cheers.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Thanks Jethro.
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