Record Reviews

EL RETORNO DE LOS BRUJOS ~ LA REFORMA NOT ON LABEL ~ MEXICO ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2006 Released: 2006 1st album by Mexican Prog band El Retorno De Los BrujosFind albums by this artist, which is a superb concept album, based on the turbulent Mexican history and the establishment of the modern Mexican State. The band is an instrumental trio with Jaime Garcia MaresFind albums by this artist – guitars and keyboards, José Alejandro Ortiz GalarzaFind albums by this artist – bass and José Gabriel Martinez GuzmánFind albums by this artist – drums and percussion. They play a hard-edged modern Prog, with great skill and imagination, full of exceptional melodies and complex musical structures. Stylistically the are close to the Prog being created by contemporary Chilean bands like TryoFind albums by this artist or Scandinavian bands like AnekdotenFind albums by this artist and even like some modern RIO bands. Considering this is their debut, I have really high hopes for this band. A must for all adventurous Prog fans!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

ERGO SUM ~ ERGO SUM ROCK SYMPHONY 042 (Barcode: 7898217280420) ~ CHILE ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1997 - 2001 Released: 2001 1st album by the great Chilean Prog group Ergo SumFind albums by this artist. On this album the band continues the legacy of the so-called first generation of South American Prog, modeled after European groups of the early 1970s (mostly UK and Italian ones). At first the group sounds very much like an instrumental version of Jethro TullFind albums by this artist or the Hungarian group SolarisFind albums by this artist, mostly due to the fact that the flute is the leading solo instrument. The folksy JT approach is also present, changing only when the heavy lead guitar licks take the stage occasionally. The music is excellent all the way with constantly changing rhythmic patterns and imaginative melodies. Both main soloists (flute and guitar) play some blistering solos and the rhythm section provides an excellent backing. The percussion player adds some nice touches using exotic percussion instruments. All in all an excellent Prog album, perhaps not very innovative (their next release will be much more daring), but perfect in every sense. Considering how good this stuff is, it’s not wonder that the second generation of Chilean Prog bands (TryoFind albums by this artist, Akinetón RetardFind albums by this artist) were to conquer the top of the Prog scene. This is a reissue of the original LP, with 2 added tracks recorded especially for this CD edition. Highly recommended!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

ERGO SUM ~ MIXOLIDIO ROCK SYMPHONY 045 (Barcode: 7898217280451) ~ CHILE ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1999 - 2001 Released: 2001 2nd album by the great Chilean Prog group Ergo SumFind albums by this artist. Following their excellent eponymous debut album, the band went through a personnel change (a new bassist and drummer) with the original drummer switching to vibraphone, which enhanced their sound considerably. The also updated their musical approach considerably, switching from symphonic Prog to a much more ambitious material, jazzier and more improvised them before. Late King CrimsonFind albums by this artist and Scandinavian groups like AnglagardFind albums by this artist could serve as reference points, but the music is quite unique and original. The album consists of several studio tracks and a long suite called “Trilogia” performed live. This is a very strong album in every respect, which puts the group in the same category with other excellent Chilean groups like TryoFind albums by this artist and Akinetón RetardFind albums by this artist. This is a reissue of the original LP, with 2 added tracks recorded especially for this CD edition. Wholeheartedly recommended!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

EXSIMIO ~ CARBONO 14 MYLODON 034 (Barcode: 3426300046116) ~ CHILE ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2005 Released: 2005 2nd album by the excellent Chilean Prog band ExsimioFind albums by this artist. Clearly influenced by 1990s King CrimsonFind albums by this artist, the band features two lead guitarists, which of course makes plenty of room for guitar pyrotechnics and interplay. Some Djam KaretFind albums by this artist guitar duels also come to mind, as do some of the RIO bands. Most of the tunes are pretty up-tempo, with multiple rhythm changes and quirky beats. All together this is pretty amazing and brilliant stuff, well ahead of most present-day Prog material, which proves again that Chilean Prog, with groups like TryoFind albums by this artist and Akinetón RetardFind albums by this artist, is well in the lead of the contemporary Prog scene. I can’t imagine any KC fan not wanting this beauty in his collection and I warmly recommend checking this group and this album out.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

NICOLÁS FIGUEROA ~ KO MYLODON 036 ~ CHILE ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2005 Released: 2005 An ambitious concept album by Chilean guitarist and composer Nicolás FigueroaFind albums by this artist about the element of water (“Ko” being the vocal representation of water). With a help of many guest musicians he produced a continuous set of melodies (mostly instrumental with a few vocal parts), which are very melodic and interesting. Stylistically the music is a blend of Prog and Fusion, with plenty of solo guitar parts. Sounds of streaming water connect the tracks together, forming one continuous musical flow, sometimes resembling ambient albums done in similar vein. This release proves again that Chile is consistently becoming an important source of excellent South American music with groups like TryoFind albums by this artist and Akinetón RetardFind albums by this artist leading the way.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

MAR DE ROBLES ~ INDIGENA MYLODON 051 (Barcode: 3426300047021) ~ CHILE ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2007 Released: 2007 2nd album by excellent Chilean Prog / Fusion band Mar De RoblesFind albums by this artist, which joins the ranks of other exceptional Chilean bands like TryoFind albums by this artist and Akinetón RetardFind albums by this artist in establishing Chile as a major source of truly excellent music. The quintet includes Julio TobarFind albums by this artist – saxophone & flute, Cristián LarrondoFind albums by this artist – Chapman stick & bass, Rodrigo MorisFind albums by this artist – guitar, Jesús ParadaFind albums by this artist – drums and Ignacio LarrondoFind albums by this artist – percussion. Following the footsteps set by their stunning eponymous debut album, the band delivers again a set of highly energetic mostly instrumental pieces, brilliantly composed and performed. Extensive improvisations and quirky rhythm changes are the predominant characteristics of the music, which engulfs the listener completely. Some traces of late King CrimsonFind albums by this artist are evident (as seems to be the case with almost all Chilean bands) but these are just stylistic traces – the music is completely original and quite stunning. It seems that these young musicians are determined to take the best from the Prog / Fusion tradition and enhance it further, to the delight of music lovers like myself. Amazing stuff – a must!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

TRYO ~ CRUDO MYLODON 007 ~ CHILE ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1997 - 1998 Released: 1998 2nd album by the Chilean Prog band TryoFind albums by this artist, which is considered as one of the most interesting South American groups. Tryo are in fact two distinct entities in one – an electric trio (guitar / bass / drums) and an acoustic trio (acoustic guitar / cello / percussion), playing two quite distant types of music. The electric version plays superb complex music fairly similar to late King CrimsonFind albums by this artist or the Swedish band AnekdotenFind albums by this artist. Heavy, somewhat distorted guitar and odd rhythm patters are the main characteristics. In complete contrast the acoustic version plays serene, delicate music, complex as well but melancholic and subdued, somewhat similar to OregonFind albums by this artist or another Swedish band Isildurs BaneFind albums by this artist. On this album the electric trio is documented performing live, while the acoustic trio provides a set of studio recorded tracks, which constitute the second part of the album. This is music of the highest caliber, not easy listening but a highly rewarding musical experience. Highly recommended.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

TRYO ~ DOS MUNDOS CANTERA 04 ~ CHILE ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2001 Released: 2002 4th album by this phenomenal Chilean Prog group TryoFind albums by this artist, which is undoubtedly one of the (if not “the”) most interesting ensembles of South American origin. Their consistently excellent output, as documented by their previous releases, is always a source of immense musical adventures. The combination of the rough “heavy” side of King CrimsonFind albums by this artist riffs and the exquisitely elegant chamber acoustic trio effects puts Tryo in a class of their own, way beyond most of the contemporary Prog activity. This studio album, beautifully recorded in the USA, presents both sides of the group as the title of the album suggests - Dos Mundos means Two Worlds. In their case these two worlds live in perfect harmony at all times and the transitions form one to another are smooth and make perfect sense. This stuff is really beyond any recommendation – this is contemporary music at its best: intelligent, sensitive, expressive and subtle at the same time. Essential food for the mind!

CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend

TRYO ~ LIVE… VIAJES POR EL CRUDO PATRIMONIO DE UN TRIO ENTRE DOS MUNDOS ROCK SYMPHONY 006 (Barcode: 7898217289959) ~ CHILE ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2005 Released: 2008 Following five absolutely brilliant albums, the titles of which can be found in the DVD´s title; the Chilean group TryoFind albums by this artist finally release their first DVD, which was filmed in Brazil closely following the release of their last album. Since I´ve already written extensively about this band, there is no need to expand here, just to remind everybody that this is probably one of the top 3 most interesting contemporary bands on our planet, playing music that is transcendent and far beyond anything else done today, crossing genres, styles and making any effort to label and classify completely useless. Hearing – and seeing in this case – is believing. How these three musicians manage to create this wonderful world of music is beyond anybody´s comprehension, but seeing it being done live leaves no doubts as to their abilities. People not familiar with the band´s recorded output can find here a great entry point; those who are already hooked need no prompting to grab this without a moment´s hesitation. A modern masterpiece! Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, 120 minutes. NTSC

DVD 1 Recommend To A Friend

TRYO ~ PATRIMONIO MYLODON 016 (Barcode: 3426300045904) ~ CHILE ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1998 - 1999 Released: 2005 3rd album by the superb Chilean Prog band TryoFind albums by this artist. As usual, it includes both the electric and the acoustic version of the band, performing the highly complex music, which is their forte. The music sound is somewhat similar to the output of several modern RIO groups, but always distinctly theirs. This album presents the electric and acoustic tracks intertwined, with no clear separation between them. The overall effect is quite stunning and presents an excellent example of how challenging and fulfilling Prog can be, when played by the best representatives of the genre. A must for any serious Prog-head.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

TRYO ~ VIAJES MYLODON 030 ~ CHILE ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2004 - 2005 Released: 2005 5th album by the Chilean Prog band TryoFind albums by this artist, a magnificent opus of contemporary music performed entirely by the acoustic version of the band. Acoustic guitar, cello and a plethora of percussion instruments create a serene, somewhat melancholic mood, which suits the compositions perfectly. The cello is featured as the front instrument on most pieces (strongly reminiscent of the early albums by the Hungarian band After CryingFind albums by this artist) with marimba and vibes providing the harmonics. This is heartbreakingly beautiful music worthy of repeated listening sessions in a variety of moods. It absolutely touches the soul of every sensitive person and I am enchanted, delighted and deeply moved by this music every time I listen to it. Essential!

CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend