FRÁGIL

I usually don't review compilations, because it's better to understand a song in its natural context, and that is in the way and order that the band placed each track in the original album. Another good reason IMO is that not the band or the fans but the producers are the ones who decide which songs are better. If I want a good compilation, I burn my own CD with the tracks I want (This is legal if you own the original CD).

But in the case of this self titled album Frágil, there was a strong reason, the band had only released albums in vinyl format for the Peruvian market using unknown labels, so they needed to be recognized outside our country and what a better way than to become one of the first Peruvian bands to release a CD with a serious producer like Delta Discos S.A.

Frágil is a collection of songs from their first two albums, has some great achievements and a few mistakes.

I used to believe that mixing songs from their first two albums was a mistake, being that the first one "Avenida Larco" is a very symphonic release that caused a prog' explosion in Perú and the second one "Serranio" is more Pop/Rock/Neo Prog oriented with a touch of Peruvian black and native indian folk music that only a few hardcore fans noticed, but after listening it carefully I believe it was the right decision, because all their material is good and if not together I would never had the chance to listen some great tracks.

The only mistake I find is that they didn't included two of their best tracks, "Lizzy" a beautiful flute song that reminds of Jethro Tull but with a more nostalgic atmosphere and Caiman, an excellent track with politic lyrics that's one of the most beloved songs from their repertoire.

Now let's talk about the positive points again, they joined two great tracks Mundo Raro (Strange World) and Pastas Pepas y otros Postres (Cocaine, Pills and other Desserts - free translation-) as Yes did with Your Move/All Good People in Yessongs, the effect is impressing because the contrast of the soft Mundo Raro with the explosive Pastas ... makes evident how good they were playing in different moods, simply outstanding.

The first five songs (Really six because of the double track we talked about before) from the album are simply outstanding, part of the best material ever released by this underrated Peruvian band, the influences go from Genesis to Yes and Jethro Tull, but they don't limit to copy music, they use this influence, blend it with their own sound an create something new and original.

I encourage everybody to listen this first songs carefully, probably among the best progressive rock ever released in Latin America and for those who don't like lyrics in foreign language, you always have "Obertura" (Overture) one of the best instrumentals I ever heard, but I'm sure that it's worth the effort to use a dictionary while reading the lyrics which are very interesting in most of the cases.

The seventh song "Le Dicen Rock" (They Call it Rock) as it's name implies is a clear Rock & Roll song from their first album, that always thought was out of place, not bad at all but breaks the atmosphere of the album.

The second part of "Frágil" (From track seven to fourteen) is absolutely different, not bad, because they are very competent composers and musicians but more oriented towards other influences, from this second part my favorite songs are Aquella Niña (That Girl), a very good ballad with the outstanding voice of Andrés Dulude and the amazing keyboards of Octavio (Tavo) Castillo; and the extremely beautiful Huarmi (Aymara translation for Wife) based in flute, very sweet track with the nostalgic melodies from the high Andes.

An excellent album with a few weaker tracks, especially El Abuelo/Animales (The Grandfather/Animals) and the confusing Cuanto Hay (How Much?) even though it's a great addition to any prog music collection.

Being that the exact rating are 3.5 stars will have to rate Frágil with 4 stars, even when I believe Sorpresa del Tiempo is slightly better and I rated it with the same number of stars.