Band: Jelly Fiche

CD Title: “Tout ce que j’ai reve”

Label: Unicorn Digital

Label Website: www.unicorndigital.com

Release Date: 2008

I don’t know how many times I can say this, but there is something to be said for the European influence when it comes to producing progressive rock music in the province of Quebec. That and the fact there is such a strong and vibrant local music community that is supported by so many people. They like to be different in Quebec and it’s a good thing or there’s a good chance we’d never be able to enjoy a band like Jelly Fiche who’ve just released their first stellar CD entitled Tout ce que j’ai reve. This is a trio that came together in 2005 and drawing from the label website, the core members include Syd (vocals, bass, percussion), a rock and poetry lover, Eric Plante (keyboards, saxophones, electronic programming), a jazz and sound ambiances junky and Jean-François Arsenault (guitars), a dedicated 60’s & 70’s prog fan merged their musical influences to create the artistic identity of that band now know as Jelly Fiche. On the disc they have the assistance of Mathieu Bergeron (drums), Vanessa Caron (flute) and Gardy Fury (backing vocals).

To describe the sound of Jelly Fiche here’s what you do, take one-part Morse Code in their prog heyday, add one part Harmonium and then throw in a little Ange and then season with some Pink Floyd. Mix that all together and you have a spectacular progressive musical stew. The band starts off strong with the title track “Tout ce que j’ai reve” (8:46) which features their trademark melodies performed with warm harmonies. The second track “Les Arbres” (10:27) betrays their Pink Floyd influence with the beginning and end sounding a lot like a long-lost pre-Dark Side track. The middle section is a jazz-influenced saxophone blow-out that goes to emphasize the dreamy opening and closing melodies. In fact while Jelly Fiche are masters at injecting a humm-ability they’re not afraid to shake things up a bit by using that jazz influenced sax in a variety of tracks providing a nice counterpart to the ever present prog-styled guitar work. Track three “Cache au Dond plus Haut” (7:14) is a rocker but still incorporates many twists and turns, starts and stops and some nice organ. The CD is a concept piece although my non-existent French skills didn’t allow me to figure it out, although that’s hardly an impediment to enjoying this wonderful CD. It features 9-tracks, many of which are on the longish tide and some of which roll into the following track. The longest individual composition is the CD closer “La Cage des Vautours/Liberte” (15:25) featuring complex sections knitted together in classic symphonic progressive rock tradition. But even the shorter tracks like “Source Infinie” (4:58) have much to offer the listener, with its rolling rhythm, instantly likeable melody and beautiful harmonies. It’s a track like this where the Morse Code influence really comes through. I can’t speak French but found myself happily singing along!

Ladies and gentlemen I give you one of my favorites of 2008 so far. Jelly Fiche is a band that’s going to appeal to a wide range of symphonic prog fans especially those who enjoy the bands mentioned above. There are so many individual elements that I love about these compositions; they’ve managed to balance the softer acoustic sounds with the more aggressive electric side just perfectly. I can’t throw enough praise at this disc. It get’s my highest recommendation.