Morse Code

Morse Code is by and large the main progressive rock act to have grown on French-Canadian soil. While more locally popular groups like Harmonium and Octobre were inspired by specific prog elements while maintaining strong ties with folk and rock, Morse Code embraced the whole sound of the style. Where other bands like Pollen and Etcetera were only able to record one album, this group released three LPs in the mid-'70s that can be considered classic international prog rock items, essential to any serious fan's collection. Main composer, vocalist, and keyboardist Christian Simard, guitarist/flutist Daniel Lemay, bassist Michel Vallée, and drummer Raymond Roy met in their teens. They began their career playing covers at parties, but soon were recruited by pop singers like Pierre Lalonde and Donald Lautrec to back them on stage and in the studio. Through this "day job," they acquired a commanding level of experience and chops. They formed Morse Code, started to write their own material, and released Morse Code Transmission in 1971. This and its follow-up, Morse Code Transmission II (1972), are English-only affairs and emulate the sound of late-'60s psychedelic rock groups like Iron Butterfly. Both LPs were met with indifference by the public and critics, and the group retreated to its accompaniment duties, working with mainstream pop singer Jacques Salvail among others. Meanwhile, British progressive rock groups like King Crimson, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Yes, and most of all Genesis, were provoking quite a stir in the province of Quebec. Christian Simard began to write new material strongly influenced by these artists. Preliminary shows in 1974 attracted the attention of Capitol Records and a contract was signed. In 1975 the group released La Marche des Hommes, which...