Release : Morse Code - La Marche Des Hommes
Artist : Morse Code
Album : La Marche Des Hommes
Genre : Progressive Rock
Source : CDDA
Label : EMI / MusiqueProgresSonMuisc
URL : http://www.progquebec.com/
Date : 00-00-2007
Encoder : LAME 3.97 / -V2 --vbr-new
Quality : 207kbps 44100 kHz Joint Stereo
Tracks : 9
Time : 41:55 min
Size : 62.70 MB
1 La Marche Des Hommes 11:16
2 Le Pays D'Or 3:18
3 La Ceremonie De Minuit 5:01
4 Cocktail 3:26
5 Une Goutte De Pluie 3:21
6 Qu'est Ce Que T'as Compris? 5:31
7 Probleme 2:07
8 Cocktail (Disco Mix) 4:23
9 Qu'est-Ce Que t'as Compris? (45 Tours RPM) 3:32
Brand new reissue of one of Quebec's greatest 70's progressive bands with their
unmistakable huge sweeping powerful keyboard/mellotron and strident bass sound,
with slow melodic guitar embellishing French language songs. A very welcome
reissue. This was the band's first after their earlier more rock oriented phase
when they were initially known as Morse Code Transmission.
One of the foremost Quebec prog bands of their day, Morse Code's discography has
sold over 100,000 copies and earned them fans around the world. These highly
anticipated reissues were green-lighted by EMI Music Canada, remastered from the
original stereo masters, feature 12-page booklets and include band composer
Christian Simard as executive producer. This, their first Capitol album,
features their biggest hits, the symphonic disco instrumental Cocktail for the
mass market, and the eleven-minute title track for the progressive rock fanbase.
Inspired by Genesis and Yes, from the lush Mellotron to utopian lyrics (in
French), this is vintage progressive rock. The reissue features two bonus tracks
- Wayside Music
The classic Trilogy is now available on compact disc! Morse Code was one of the
greatest progressive groups on Quebec soil during the 1970's, praised by both
press and listeners. Finally, after decades of unavailability, the three
original albums from the peak of Morse Code's career are now available once
more. "La Marche des hommes" was the album through which the group unleashed its
progressive intentions, displaying influences of Yes and Ange while crafting its
own unique sound. This masterpiece now contains two bonus tracks: "Qu'est-ce que
t'as compris?" (single version) and "Cocktail" (Disco mix). - ProgNews
MORSE CODE were a French Canadian progressive rock outfit that released 3 great
mid 70's albums. This four piece band blend rich analog keyboards with distinct
bass, guitar, flute and drum interplay. Overall sound is very big and deep
really making this album and unbelievable listening experience. With a sound
somewhere between GENESIS' "Selling England By The Pound" and ANGE's "Emile
Jacotey" this album delivers everything a prog fan would love. On "La Marches
Des Hommes" (The March Of The Men) they utilize lots of piano, mellotron, organ,
clavinet in a similar way to that of classic GENESIS. Songs are very well
constructed and enable the listener to create lots of imagery as you listen with
lots of dynamic timing and mood changes. Vocals are exceptionally well done with
some nice harmony and of course sung in French. Their most widely recognized
piece is the self titled 12 minute epic track which is simply to die for but I
also love the rest of the album equally well. Another essential progressive rock
album for your collection. - James Unger
In 1971, a Canadian psych-group from Quebec called Morse Code Transmission
released their debut without much notice. After a second album the following
year, the band temporarily disappeared for some years. But in 1975 they were
back again, now just named Morse Code and had evolved into a full-blown
symphonic progressive 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. "La Marche des Hommes" is best known for its
epic 11-minute title-track and the instrumental "Cocktail". The later one was
released on single and became a hit in Quebec. Musically it blends melodic
Mellotron and flute with some funky keyboard of the kind that Eela Craig would
explore on their classic "One Niter" album the year after. The title-track shows
impressive songwriting-skills from Simard, often with the instrumental and
vocal-sections based in partly the same themes, giving the track a feel of
continuity despite its complexity and many chord-changes. Great stuff. "Le Pays
d'Or" is a ballad with one of the finest melodies on the record, featuring some
unusually authentic-sounding Mellotron-strings. This one is followed by "La
CΘrΘmonie de Minuit" where Simard further shows clear influences from Tony Banks
in his keyboard playing. "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 "Probl?me", a grandiose ballad but with a modest length at only two
minutes. - VintageProg.com
As Morse Code Transmission disintegrated, like the psychedelic caterpillar
metamorphosing into the progressive butterfly, the group reformed and came into
full maturity with this highly regarded album. As the Quebec scene was now
reaching its golden hour, so did MC, and their brand of symphonic rock sung in
French (as was the case with Harmonium, and later Pollen, Opus-5 and a few more)
became in instant hit with the local population. But this was also very limited
to their province as English Canada will stay oblivious to MC.
Down to a quartet (the standard prog quartet) with keyboardist Cristian Simard
as chief composer of the music but getting the help of outsider Chantal
Dusseault for all of the lyrics, they developed a rather classic symphonic
influenced rock in the range of Pollen, Atoll , Ange and a few more. This album,
like the following Pro-creation, is a concept one, and is deeply rooted in the
progress of mankind. Excellent lyrics and often excellent music, this was part
of the classic Quebec albums from the second half of the 70's.
Although Simard is clearly the leader of the group, it is clear that the better
tracks are the one written collectively by the group: from the awesome 11-min+
title track, to the hectic Ceremonie De Minuit, to the thoughtful "Qu'est-ce que
tu as compris?" and the instrumental Cocktail, the group smokes, blazes, cruises
through your mind with red-hot irons with their excellent multi-layered vocals
and the overall impeccable musicianship. The only weaker points being the
Simard-only Pays D'Or and the two short tracks Goutte De Pluie and Probleme
(both suing with a vocal delivery sometimes reminiscent of " Le Grand Jacques"
Brel), but hardly anything really bothersome.
The first of a run of three classic albums, La March Des Hommes is of course
more hinted at French speakers, but the singing is relatively accent-less and
the lyrics easily understandable, therefore this is well recommended to others
progheads also. - Hugues Chantraine
This Quebecois band has three phases. First came the psych period under which
they were known as MORSE CODE TRANSMISSION and made two psych albums in 71 & 72
sung in English. Highly collectible but somewhat out of the scope of this site.
The second phase saw their names shortened and with the Quebec prog explosion
under way decided to switch to French singing. The three albums that followed
are real gems of progressive music oscillating between GENESIS and BARCLAY JAMES
HARVEST but the French texts (sometimes highly impressive) gave them a sound of
their own. Of those three albums, 'Procreation" is the better one but badly
represented in the compilation - the only CD release so far. They disbanded, as
the disco wave became a Tsunami in La Belle Province only to reform in 83 to
make a best-forgotten English-sung album and again in 95 for a much better one
again in French - ProgArchives.com
Morse Code's origins date back to 1967 when bassist Michel VallΘe and drummer
Raymond Roy formed the group Les Maεtres. They recruited Christian Simard on
keyboards and vocals in 1968, with Jocelyn Julien on guitar. These four talented
self-taught teenagers from Quebec City played popular cover songs from the
Beatles to the Bee Gees, as well as some original music, in both English and
French. Les Maitres performed tirelessly in hotel bars and clubs across the
province of Quebec. Pierre Laberge became the group's manager in 1969. The RCA
record label took notice of the group's potential and released three Les Maεtres
45 RPMs by 1970. RCA had big plans, comparing the group to The Guess Who and
hoped to promote them in the U.S. Since an English name was needed, Les Maεtres
changed their name to Morse Code Transmission (MCT).
Bill Misener, Gordon Lightfoot's producer, took charge of MCT's first
self-titled album, which was recorded in Toronto and Montreal, and released in
1971. The album charted two singles in Canada, and was a mix of short commercial
songs of varying styles, with Simard composing the music and others writing
English lyrics. However, the group wanted to play hard rock. While disappointed,
RCA allowed them to do so, and in early 1973, the dou¡ble album Morse Code
Transmission II was released. By then, ex-Robert Charlebois guitarist Bernard
Tapin had replaced Julien. This album was a dramatic change from the first one,
with longer improvised songs still sung in English. MCT performed on Claude
Dubois' television show Decibels and embarked on a 30-city tour of Quebec, which
now included playing colleges and performing with other local rock bands such as
Dionysos. However, the second album didn't sell well and the relationship with
RCA ended.
In order to build up its finances, MCT worked with pop singer Jacques Salvail
and embarked on a high-profile tour of Quebec with him during the summer of
1974. Nevertheless, the group continued to write its own material and later that
year released the 45 RPM "Demain tout va changer/Prends ton temps' on an
independent label, its first two French songs under the shortened name Morse
Code. By then, Tapin had left and the group was becoming more and more
influenced by European progressive music, particularly Yes, King Crimson and
Ekseption. In the spring of 1975, Daniel Lemay of Drummondville and formerly of
the group Phantom Grey, joined on guitar and flute. Record company EMI had been
following the group and signed it to its Capitol label, which was having great
success with the likes of Beau Dommage and Maneige. However, Morse Code was
required to write a "disco" track so as to achieve quick commercial success in
the ever growing number of dance clubs. In August 1975, the single "Cocktail"
was released and became an instant hit, quickly spreading to the black market in
Europe and the U.S.
In October 1975, after many years of perfecting its music, most of which was
composed by Simard, and having hired Chantai Dussault to write French lyrics,
Morse Code's first album La Marche des Hommes was launched at Lover's Disco Club
in Montreal. This venue was an ironic choice for a group that would become one
of Quebec's top progressive rock acts. The album proved to be a huge success,
selling over 40,000 copies upon release.