André Dumont

In 1972, French Canadian (Quebec) Folk-Psych-Rock band Agapè released “Le Troisième Seuil” (English translation: “The Third Stage of enlightenment”) on the tiny private label (Editions RM). …. best described as folk-psych-prog-xian rock with doomy church organ and spacey sound effects. The vocalist (and coauthor-composer) with Agapè was a hip young priest named André Dumont. Just prior to his project with Agapè, André Dumont had become artistic director for the tiny label Disques RM (Radio Marie) which was owned by the brotherhood of the Cap-de-la-Madeleine Sanctuary in Québec. Along with RM musicians (musically inclined young priests & nuns) and several other young artists like Marc Lebel and René Dupéré, they created a community of audio-visual artists baptised the Groupe d'Animation Pastorale (GAP) focusing on and producing new generation liturgic (Xian) rhythmic folk-rock. It was under this GAP banner that André Dumont contributed and participated on what collectors now call the Holy Trinity of Quebec Xian folk-psych-rock LP's.... Marc Lebel (Un De Plus), Des Gens Comme Vous et Moi (S/T), and Agapè (Le Troisième Seuil). It was around the same time (late 60’s, early 70’s) that Dumont was also responsible for the creation of the RM / GAP spin-off labels Jerusalem and Escales, releasing a series of liturgic Xian folk-rock LP’s including the “Pour Ce Monde” volumes and “Voici des Jours de Rêve”. A year after his milestone recording with Agapè, André Dumont initiated a brief solo (musical) career with his obscure "Bienheureux". A few years later, he released his last solo LP, "J'entends ta voix", another Xian folk recording with help from yet another young musically inclined young priest, Yvon Hubert ("Pelerins", "Spirifère" and Offenbach's "St-Chrone de Néant). Some of André Dumont's contributions are included on Patrimoine PQ's compilation album called "Résurrection" which features many of the most obscure Liturgic-Xian-Folk-Rock recordings from Quebec, like Agapè (Le Troisième Seuil) and Offenbach (Saint-Chrone).