CONGRESO

In 1976 flutist Hugo Pirovich, who participated in Congreso's debut, replaced for a brief time Renato Vivaldi, but by the time of the recordings of a third album Vivaldi was back onboard.Facing the strict lines of the dictatorship, Congreso kept producing music, which now contained allegoric lyrics, preventing any chance of conflicts with the political enviroment.The band introduced a huge list of guests on strings and wind instruments (no less than seven musicians) and the new album ''Congreso'', known also as ''The cafe album'', was released on EMI Odeon.

With this work Congreso attempted to mix Andean Folk with an elaborate Chamber Rock, retaining the light rock elements through the bass lines and drumming, and offering for the first time a set of long tracks, ranging from 6 to 10 minutes.Taking this work step by step, the first few pieces are following the same concept presented already by the band in previous releases, an elegant South-American Folk Rock with emphasis on expressive vocals and traditional instrumental tunes.With ''Los elementos'' you will face the band at its most experimental side, a slow, psychedelic intro with effects and drums will leave its place to mellow Andean Folk with the zampona in evidence and later to a dreamy instrumental work of Jazz, Folk and Chamber Music inspirations, which will close with an optimistic mood full of recorders and charango.Charango is also the main instrument on the following, short and rhythmic ballad ''El cielito de mi pieza''.''Tu canto'' clocks at about 6 minutes and features a nice intro with soft electric guitars, percussion and recorders, opening the way for a stretched Chamber Folk performance with melancholic orchestrations filled with strings and some bass, before closing in the same way as it has opened.The development of the band becomes really apparent in the 10-min. ''Arco iris de Hollin'', which is closer to R.I.O. and Chamber Music than Folk, dominated by odd string sections and depressive orchestral parts, dark flute lines and even a jazzy taste.A true surprise considering that Congreso sounded usually as an optimistic group, this is definitely some haunting, semi-acoustic and very dramatic all instrumental music.

For most of its part ''Congreso'' sounds like any other release by the band.Ethereal Prog Folk with an acoustic background, smooth interplays and romantic vocals.But the closing suite is an additional reason to buy the album for its unique atmosphere, somewhere between R.I.O. and Folk.Recommended.