BICICLETA

Even though "Bicicleta" is almost unanimously acknowledged as Serú Girán's finest hour in their studio recording career, I personally prefer their second album "La Grasa De Las Capitales", but in no way do I mean to imply that I disregard this album's artistic merits. In fact, I view it as the inspired result of the creative momentum that had peaked in the "La Grasa" album and so all four musicians felt energized enough as to pursue the continuing brilliancy when approaching, arranging and performing the brand new compositions delivered by Garcia, Lebon and Aznar. The 9+ minute long opener 'A los jóvenes de ayer' has to be one of the most stunning piano-centered rock songs ever in Argentinean rock history, and arguably a top 3 song in Charly Garcia's individual résumé. Oh, words cannot just describe a portion of the exquisite beauty emanated from the abundant piano flourishes and delicate synth layers that make the nucleus of the extended introductory theme. Also worthy of praise is Moro's rhythmic delivery, which anchors the melodic development and variations consistently while Aznar keeps himself busy alternating his rhythmic and melodic roles on fretless bass guitar. This piece states a balanced combination of tango-fusion, jazz and symphonic prog, and just when things get a bit calmer during the sung portions, they happen to be just an anticipation of the glorious finale section. Glorious, yet not overdone? brilliant! After this magnificent entry, the next track is a definitive Serú Girán classic, the Lebon-penned 'Cuánto tiempo más llegará': a semi-ballad that states a solid mixture of soft rock and Latin jazz, properly ornamented with a rocky interlude that mostly serves as an enhancement of the introspective existential lyrics. 'Canción de Alicia en el país', not unlike 'A los jóvenes de ayer', bears lyrics that reflect the social tension and political drama of living in a dictatorship in metaphors (oh, what a great lyricist Garcia used to be!). 'Canción' is not as epic as the opener though, being more a sophisticated rocker whose appeal is based on the clever multi-guitar interplaying and the noticeably syncopated handling of the drum kit by the greatly talented Moro; in this way, it turns out to be less romantic and more creepy. 'La luna de marzo' is a lovely instrumental performed on Mini-Moog, electric guitar arpeggios and bass textures: it is evocative, and also it is subtle enough as to never let its repetitive framework get annoying or tiring, it is just magical in the sense of surreal delicacy. Side A is the most accomplished one, IMHO. Things become not as great for the sequence of the four remaining tracks, but let me make it clear that there is still greatness in the classically oriented expressiveness of the piano-based ballad 'Desarma y sangra' (even including partial quotations from Baroque chamber) and the Lebon-penned jazzy semi-ballad 'Tema de Nayla' (a moving manifestation of hope amidst the fear of losing someone so dear): the latter features Master Rapoport on the closing electric piano solo that beautifully portrays the running melancholy of the song's nucleus. Less accomplished but also signaled by good musical quality are 'Mientras miro las nuevas olas', which delivers a reflection on the then nascent new wave pop under an Elton John rocker's guise, while 'Encuentro con el diablo' delivers yet another political satire on a blues-rock note (with added touches of "jazzed" reggae). So, "Bicicleta" is yet another convincing fulfillment of Serú Girán's vision: a very good album for any prog rock collector and any rock collection.