Pretty much an unique voice among fellow guitarists, Lussier placed a set of microphones all across the room to capture the whole essence of his guitar sound and give it to us absolutely untreated. This CD can be fully appreciated by lovers of the Bailey/Frith/Kaiser old school; could instead be a little difficult to people not used to this kind of expression. Being a guitarist myself, I loved it but I also must say that I prefer Rene as the wonderful composer that he is (please check Le corps de l’ouvrage!!!)

An exceptionnal orchestra of twelve of the most active musicians from Québec’s new music scene presents the “Peace Prayer for John Coltrane” concert, March 28, 2001 at Casa del Popolo (Montréal). Improvisers from all tendencies are reunited for a majestic night of music freely adapted from John Coltrane’s classic compositions “Om” and “Ascension.” With Jean Derome, Philémon, Lori Freedman, John Heward, Will Glass, Sam Shalabi, Andrew Dickson, Julie Rousse, Alexandre St-Onge, André Asselin, Nicolas Caloia and A_dontigny.

An intimate and disconcerting duo composed of Joane Hétu (saxophone, voice) and Jean Derome (saxophone, flutes, small instruments, voice), Nous perçons les oreilles presents, four years after their eponymus album, all-new abstract and melancholic songs on La vie, c’est simple. As Joane puts it very clearly: “The result is related to our relationship. This is a work relationship that gives me a lot of liberty and assumes a lot of complicity. Nous perçons les oreilles are very short, naïve and humoristic songs accompanied by radical bruitist music.”

Created for “Une exposition de musique” (Montréal, 2000), also performed at the Festival international de musique actuelle de Victoriaville (2000) and in March 2002 at Cinquième salle of Place des Arts (Montréal), Jean Derome’s orchestral work Canot-camping is finally issued on CD. This 100th release of the Ambiances Magnétiques label is an extraordinary musical journey in which twelve inescapable figures of Québec new music scene takes us on a delicate, clear and moving excursion.

Les Poules is a 1990 experiment in improvisation and electronic music by figures that later loom large out of the Montréal electroacoustic scene. The female trio is Joane Hétu (alto saxophone, synth and vocals), Diane Labrosse (synthesizers and voice) with Danielle Palardy Roger on percussion and synthesizers. Long out of print from the original LP issue until this CD, the album features abrasive sonic experiments like Les siamoises, Residents-like minimalist electro-pop (Chanson du pain) and synthesizer-fueled electronic free jazz around Hétu’s sax as on En criant su’l’perron. About half the pieces are instrumental and for those that contain lyrics, those words are provided in the French and translated into English.

This innovative Quebec quintet features two violinists, one sometimes on electric violin. Their sophisticated Rock In Opposition sound boasts the jazz stylings, sound samples, bold strokes and occasional humor of modern art rock. Breathing beyond technique with crazy wisdom, the dozen largely instrumental pieces here mix composition and improvisation. Bright alto and soprano saxophones are often the voice of these witty works. A controlled use of sonic pyrotechnics and a brisk montage of instrumental timbres make Zucchini a smart and memorable disc.