Opus 5 was a Montréal-based band consisting of Luc Gauthier (guitars), Olivier Duplessis (keyboards), Christian Racine (bass), Serge Nolet (flute), and Jean-Pierre Racicot (percussion), with all members contributing vocals. The band released an album titled "Contre-Courant" in 1976 on Quality's Celebration label, which had been Harmonium's label prior to signing with CBS in 1975. It is not suprising that Opus 5's symphonic style at times reminds one of Harmonium as Quality Records may have been seeking to replace the latter with a similar style group. The tracks are long and varied with many nice melodies, lots of flute, interesting changeovers, and unique percussions containing lots of drum rolls by Racicot who marched to his own beat. The music is often compared to bands in the British Canterbury movement such as Caravan, although this is a coincidence, as the members of Opus 5 never heard any of those bands. Opus 5 toured small clubs before recording a second album in 1977, with the working name "Sérieux ou Pas". This album was based around the mostly piano-led compositions of Duplessis, with the other members contributing parts on top.

However, with funds running out for both the record company and the band, the second album was never released on vinyl and the group disbanded. Gauthier and Racine went on to form Concert, with Gauthier later working with Gerry Boulet of Offenbach, as well as several other well-known Quebec artists throughout the 1980's, eventually founding his own recording studio. Oddly enough, it was only in 1989 that "Serieux ou Pas" was released on CD, along with a separate CD reissue of "Contre-Courant", both only in Japan. As a result, both the vinyl version of "Contre-Courant" and the CD releases are rare and highly sought-after collector's items. Opus 5 is, without a doubt, one of the best examples from Quebec of a fine progressive rock group that had huge potential.
http://www.progquebec.com/opus5.html