Artists | Issues | CD Reviews | Interviews | Concert Reviews | DVD/Video Reviews | Book Reviews | Who We Are | Staff | Home
 
Progressive Rock Interviews

Miriodor

Interviewed by Gary Hill

Interview with Miriodor from 2018

MSJ:

It's been fifteen or so years since we did a Miriodor interview. What's been new in the musical world of the band?

Pascal Globensky: I think last time it was an interview about our Mekano release (fifth album) in 2005. Well, there have been four new studio albums since then, two live albums (one included is Parade, the other is Live 89), several shows in USA and Europe. We had the great pleasure of working with late Lars Hollmer (Von Zamla) and with Michel Berckmans (Univers Zéro). We opened for Van der Graaf Generator in 2009 in Quebec City. We opened for Univers Zéro in 2010 in Washington. Miriodor is now a quartet: the usual suspects (Bernard Falaise, Rémi Leclec, Pascal Globensky) with a relatively new bass player, Nicolas Lessard. Last September, we were on a short European tour, going thru France (tenth edition of the Rock In Opposition Festival), Italy (double-bill with Yugen in Milan), Germany (FreakShow Art Rock Festival) and also a show in our hometown Montreal, upon coming back.

MSJ: If you weren't involved in music what do you think you'd be doing?

Rémi Leclec: Writing, plumbing, filmmaking, mechanics … who knows! Probably a lot of different things because being a musician needs so much time practicing and discipline. At the same time, as I was only occasionally a full-time musician in my modest career, my others “jobs” may become more explored. That said, I would certainly be active in an artistic domain as it seems an essential way to interact with others in this strange path on this planet.

MSJ: What's the best thing that's ever been said about your music?

Pascal Globensky: Many nice words have been penned to describe our music, but I like these : "Miriodor's melodies are like the shapes you see in clouds. They are complex, live mostly in our imaginations and morph from one to another seamlessly."

MSJ: What's ahead for you?
Pascal Globensky: Hard to say for now. We don’t really know what’s waiting for us in 2018. Although remaining undisputedly Miriodor, our music changed a bit over the span of the last two albums, and I think it will continue to morph.
MSJ: Are there musicians with whom you would like to play in the future?

Nicolas Lessard : Yes. Our ears and eyes are open, antennas on receiving mode. No name shall be given now, though.

MSJ: Do you think that illegal downloading or streaming of music is a help or hindrance to the careers of musicians?
Rémi Leclec: Illegal use of intellectual properties is definitely a bad thing for creators who are trying to make a living. It is a real thief. As soon as your album is out, there are hundreds of illegal downloads available. That’s a shame. People doing this have no respect for artists, just destroying their effort. In general, youngest people today think it’s normal to get their favorite soundtracks for free - very sad.
MSJ: In a related question, how do you feel about fans recording shows and trading them or posting them online?
Nicolas Lessard : We actually never had this issue coming up, our fans always had been kind enough to ask for permission. About that very permission, it depends what else is available in terms of material. (video or audio)
MSJ: If you were a superhero, what music person would be your arch nemesis and why?

Nicolas Lessard : Justin Bieber - for the extreme poorness in music diversity.

MSJ: If you were to put together your ultimate band (a band you'd like to hear or catch live), who would be in it and why?

Nicolas Lessard : Okay. The guys from Piniol, plus Tony Levin, Scott Tunes, Adrian Belew, Frank Zappa, Terry Bozzio, and J.S. Bach - all doing improv.

MSJ: If you were in charge of assembling a music festival and wanted it to be the ultimate one from your point of view who would be playing?
Nicolas Lessard : Some newer bands, some well established bands, one comeback band, and a collaboration between members of different groups.
MSJ: What was the last CD you bought and/or what have you been listening to lately?
Bernard Falaise : I discovered recently a piece by Arnold Schoenberg called "Serenade." I like it very much. It’s like a ragged "L’histoire du soldat" (Stravinsky). I’m also into music for acoustic guitar and voice : early Bert Jansch, Missippi John Hurt, Skip James and Nick Drake are among my favourites. Also, Pascal made me discover the solo albums of Lars Lach’n Jonsson - very interesting albums from the 80s.
MSJ: Have you read any good books lately?
Bernard Falaise: I recently read for the second time Robertson Davies’ Depford Trilogy. It’s even better the second time, it’s a shame those books are not that well known.
MSJ: What about the last concert you attended for your enjoyment?

Rémi Leclec: I went to a couple of great shows at the end of 2017. Tire le coyote, an excellent songwriter, poet, singer with a unique voice - very folky, very musical. And a big reunion of artists rending an homage to Lhasa de Sela, incredible artist who died from a cancer some years ago. The large crowd shared many emotions. This was a precious moment of communication, almost sacred - very touching and inspiring.

MSJ: Do you remember your first concert you attended?
Pascal Globensky: Yes, in Quebec City. The Quebec band Sloche was opening for PFM. Think it was 1975. I was 14 years old, and it has been a total world opening up for me. I knew PFM a bit (I’ve heard "Cook" and "Chocolate Kings"), knew nothing about Sloche, but it was for sure a life-changing experience.
MSJ: Have you come across any new gear recently that you love?
Bernard Falaise: I usually hate gear talk, especially right after a show with a guitars or pedals geek, but I like so much my Fairfield Circuitry pedals that I have to mention them. Made in a small shop in Gatineau (Quebec), they are truly amazing. I have the ring modulator, the overdrive and a crazy fuzz called "the Unpleasant Surprise."
MSJ: Do you have a musical “guilty pleasure?”
Pascal Globensky: Maybe some jazz-rock….does it qualify?
MSJ: If you could sit down to dinner with any three people, living or dead, for food and conversation, with whom would you be dining?
Pascal Globensky: Hmmm, endless possibilities. I’d go for now for a dinner with Alejandro Jodorowsky (Chilean-French film and theatre director, screenwriter, etcetera), Hieronymus Bosch (15th century Dutch-Netherlandish painter) and Andrei Tarkovski (Russian film director). Its funny, (just realized this now) that I chose three immense artists of the visual Arts, and me being involved with the sonic world.
MSJ: What would be on the menu?
Pascal Globensky: Solianka (Russian beef soup), smoked herring, cilantro-lime chicken and for good taste, a Quebec poutine.
MSJ: Are there any closing thoughts you would like to get out there?
Pascal Globensky: I would like to thank Cuneiform Records (Steve Feigenbaum and his team) for working with us all those years (since 1986), and at the same time allowing us to live this great adventure, as Miriodor. A truly great collaboration we have with them. In relation to your question about illegal downloading, Cuneiform Records will be on a hiatus in 2018, not releasing any new albums. They are trying to reposition themselves in this new world we live in, in which music is free like the air we breathe. It’s tough for music creators, and tough for small labels.

 

MSJ: This interview is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2018  Volume 1 at  garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2018.
 
More Interviews
Metal/Prog Metal
Non-Prog
Progressive Rock
 
Google

   Creative Commons License
   This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.

    © 2024 Music Street Journal                                                                           Site design and programming by Studio Fyra, Inc./Beetcafe.com