Morse Code-La Marche Des Hommes (1975)

Behind the name Morse Code Transmission lies one of the key players in the early Canadian avant-garde rock scene. Between 1971 and 1994, they released seven compelling albums rooted in classical symphonic rock. Founded in Montreal in the late 1960s, their initial lineup consisted of Christian Simard (vocals and keyboards), Jocelyn Julien (guitar), Peter Schenkman (cello), Al Cherny (flute), Michel Vallée (bass), and Raymond Roy (drums). Their debut album, released in 1971, and their second, released a year later, showcase a style still lacking a clear musical direction, but where psychedelic folk sounds and baroque pop serve as the common thread. Three years later, with guitarist Julien replaced by Daniel Lemay, and the band shortened to Morse Code, they released their third album, "La Marche Des Hommes", a more evolved work where the band reached full compositional maturity. This album produced a remarkable work that moves between hard rock and progressive rock, a style that placed them somewhere between the more pastoral and theatrical Genesis and a softened version of 1970s British hard rock bands. Tracks like the memorable and ethereal title track are the prelude to a delightful repertoire of excellent symphonic songs such as "Qu'est-Ce Que T'as Compris?", "Une Goutte De Pluie", and "Cocktail", which together form a remarkable example of classic 1970s progressive rock.