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Algaravia - Breve E Interminável CD (album) cover

BREVE E INTERMINÁVEL

Algaravia

 

Heavy Prog

3.42 | 18 ratings

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apps79
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars Brazilians Algaravia emerged in mid-90's from Fire Worshippers, a Heavy Metal act from Recife, fronted by guitarist/singer Fred Herbaud and his brother-bassist Jean-Jacques Herbaud.They worked as a trio with endless drummer changes, eventually collaborating with Albert Pimenta.As the style of Fire Worshippers constantly progressed through time it was necessary for the core to add new musicians to the band.Thus, Algaravia were born with Sidney Jaires joining on guitars and Gilson Rocha on percussion.They recorded one album for Progressive Rock Worldwide, ''Breve e interminavel'', released in 1996 with Fred Herbaud handling also the supporting keyboards.

With an opening track named ''Crimsoniana'' it's rather impossible to fail on guessing the band's style.Algaravia played a complex Progressive Rock with long, mainly instrumental tracks, led by a dual guitar manifest inspired by the music of KING CRIMSON, offering complicated twists, technical moves and atmospheric solos with occasional support by background keyboards.They added a light rural touch in many pieces via the use of percussion, coloring the sound with a somewhat Latin flavor.The album is full of jazzy interventions, guitar distortions and a solid rhythm section providing the necessary surroundings, but bass and drums often come in the forefront with unusual patterns.The truth is that they fail to escape from the influence of ROBERT FRIPP, but there are a few original tracks with a personal approach, led basically by the use of acoustic guitars and the ethereal vocals of Fred Herbaud, reminiscent of compatriots TERRENO BALDIO.The later part of the album is pretty strong.Algaravia eventually have found a balance between light, folky flavors, dissonant Fusion and KING CRIMSON-like Heavy/Experimental Rock, at this point they sound actually as a mix of KING CRIMSON with GENTLE GIANT, delivering some playful melodies and dreamy vocal lines next to the twin guitar orgasms of Fred Herbaud and Sidney Jaires.

The band was unfortunately short-lived despite a reputedly good live activity.The departure of drummer Albert Pimenta marked the end of Algaravia's history in 1998.

KING CRIMSON-like Prog Rock with technical virtuosity, mechanical executions and haunting atmospheres, accompanied once in a while by nuances of Brazilian Music.Well-played and recommended material.

apps79 | 3/5 |

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