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Conventum — À l'Affût d'un Complot
(ProgQuébec MPM12, 1977/2006, CD)

Conventum — Le Bureau Central des Utopies
(ProgQuébec MPM13, 1979/2006, CD)

by Mike McLatchey, Published 1997-10-01

À l'Affût d'un Complot Cover artLe Bureau Central des Utopies Cover art

Conventum was a focal point in the Canadian progressive rock scene, and they were barely rock! Both René Lussier and André Duschene, two of Canada's more notable RIO-influenced musicians, were main members and between them they created a unique musical fusion. Their instrumentation was quite similar to the French group Malicorne in that the music was mostly acoustic — guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, and violin to name a few of the wide variety of instruments used here. The percussion is only minimal, no true drum kits are used. They were also similar to Malicorne in their integration of Celtic folk elements into their stylistic whole, but unlike Malicorne, the influence was not the base but one of the elements of a wide variety of stylistic influences. On À l'Affût d'un Complot this folk influence is at its strongest, the music has a charged atmosphere and is lavish in its complexity, an almost progressive chamber group with a decidedly French feel. The original album is supported by live music from the group making the package very worthwhile. What's so interesting about Conventum is their mish-mash of stylistic elements — humorous elements are juxtaposed with beautiful, almost classical, pieces that evolve into reels.  Fascinating and quite beautiful. Their second album shows a stepping away from the more overt Celtic folk elements and evolving more in the chamber music direction. The concoction here is quite like the Belgian group Julverne, music that you might hear at a cafe in Paris or Montreal, but far more unique and interesting. The acoustic instruments dart around in frenzied passion and counterpoint each other in a variety of inventive ways. This album is fresh and quite luxurious, it doesn't seem to belie the more RIO tendencies that Lussier or Duschene would pick up later as members of Les Quatuor Guitaristes de l'Apocalypso-Bar. Bureau also has bonus tracks including "Le Commerce Nostalgique" from the Recommended Records Sampler, showing an electrified version of Conventum, a more progressive rock oriented track with drums and flute — an excellent way to end the CD. Both CDs come recommended to those into folk-fusions.

Filed under: Reissues, Issue 13, 2006 releases, 1977 recordings, 1979 recordings

Related artist(s): René Lussier, Charles Kaczynski, Conventum, André Duchesne

 

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