Fort Simpson (June 06/03) - How do you know you're composing great music?

Well, Daniel Allaire gauges by keeping an eye on band mate Mike Canney's arms. When they've hit the right notes, those little hairs on Canney's forearms stand on end. Allaire refers to the phenomenon as the "Mike-o-meter."

Although their former band, Ekuinox, broke up in October, Canney and Allaire still get together regularly to rehearse and lay down tracks.

"Sometimes we play for seven straight days," Allaire said, adding that most sessions are about three hours long.

"It's a lot of work."

Calling themselves Quorum, they have written 12 new tunes, all instrumental, since December.

They've also acquired a studio digital recorder that allows them to mix and master their own songs and burn them on a CD. They're still learning all of the digital recorder's many features, though.

"We're no sound engineers yet," Allaire said, laughing amongst a mass of wires and chords criss-crossing all over the floor of Canney's front room.

Despite being just a duo, their upbeat compositions have a full sound.

The secret is Allaire's high-tech keyboard, which can simulate the sounds of many instruments, such as a bass guitar, a piano or a violin.

"I can actually have a whole symphonic orchestra," Allaire said.

Once the melody is set, Allaire pre-records the harmony. Then he plays along on the keyboard while Canney supplies the percussion.

Aiming to broaden their range, the duo have created classical, pop and Latino music.

Currently without a vocalist -- they aren't ruling out the addition of some local talent -- or lyrics, the titling of their tracks is inspired by the music itself.

"Since we don't have any words, basically whatever pops into our heads first is what we name the songs," Canney noted, citing song titles such as Route 2, Factory and Bonita, each title with its own explanation.

Allaire and Canney plan to perform, with dancers, at the Open Sky Festival in Fort Simpson in July. The South Slave Friendship Festival in Fort Smith is also on their calendar.

They are hoping to create a full-length CD during the fall.

In the meantime, a few of their songs can be heard on Fort Simpson tourism radio.

Ultimately, they hope to have their music published and used in a movie soundtrack or even as a commercial jingle.

Even if they never find fame or fortune, they're still having a lot of fun.

"It's a buzz," Allaire said.