Information/Write-up
Originally posted here early in 2010, and featured on itcamefromcanada.com - here are updated transfers from the original vinyl. The unofficial CD re-issue doesn't do it justice and it sounds much better and uninterrupted here.
Here is the holy grail of Québecois psych-freak marijuana recordings. Melchior Alias Montréal Act recorded this album in 1969, induced by hallucinogens with Peter Tessier providing the sound Engineering. Have a listen to their version of Oh Canada (No, Rien de Mieux translates no, nothing of better).
The collection of freak tracks written in Montreal, Vancouver, Paris, Val-Morin, and Percé when mixed with marijuana is amongst the most fascinating French Canadian recordings of all time. They only recorded this album and one single.
Under the musicale direction of Robert Goulet (guitare); Denis Lepage (piano, orgue, clavecin, congas); Serge Blouin (basse); Melchior Alias...(guitare, seche, celesta, flute, soprano); Peter Tessier (ingenieur du son); Terry Brown (mixage); Michel Perotta (assistant a la productio); Pierre Dubord (directeur de la production); Jacques Cartier (maquette).
Front cover and back photos was by ROMPRE. Chu mnu en metro automatique was written in Paris on March 30, 1969. The gatefold artwork is astounding. The presentation opens your mind to the experimentation a la production, a la folie, au tricotage, aux bons et mau-vais voyages: "STONED from the SIDE" dit P.D. dit Pierre Dubord.
-Robert Williston
This French-Canadian ultra-rarity makes its long-overdue CD debut here. Originally issued in 1969, it's a crazed blend of catchy pop, funky grooves and spaced-out psychedelia, with plenty of acid guitar. The identity of the enigmatic Melchior Alias remains unknown, but numerous leading lights of Quebec's progressive music scene are involved, including arranger and future disco luminary Denis Lepage and engineer Peter Tessier (later to make his own rare album). It seems likely that the credit for Robert Goulet as musical director is a joke -- but anything seems possible on this most strange and mysterious of discs. "From Quebec and sung in French, this goofy fusion of guitar, organ, drums and mild electronics has an amiable air of stoned experimentalism ... the highlights are the bizarre groover 'Itineraire 9,' laid-back ballad 'L'Espace d'un Été' and spacey 'L'Aquarium,' which recall the more experimental work of Michel Polnareff and Serge Gainsbourg. Two 45s were extracted, and quite a lot of effort went into the packaging, but promotion and distribution must have been poor, as it's easily one of the rarest major label albums of the period."
-Patrick Lundborg, The Acid Archives
Gilles Lamontagne (aka Melchior Alias): acoustic guitar, celesta, soprano flute
Denis Lepage: piano, organ, harpsichord, congas
Robert Goulet: guitar
Serge Blouin: bass
Andy Shorter: drums
Produced by Pierre Dubord and Michel Perrotta
Engineered by Peter Tessier
Mixed by Terry Brown
Photography by Rompre
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