MÁS ALLÁ DE NUESTRAS MENTES DIMINUTAS

Cai are a vintage Spanish symphonic prog band from the late Seventies, and right from their debut `Más Allá de Nuestras Mentes Diminuta' in '79, the group offered a truly superb collection of melodic arrangements with lively instrumental displays. There's so much infectious positive energy racing through the four tracks here, the band incorporating everything from grooving jazz/fusion guitar funkiness and spacy keyboard atmospheres, in addition to instantly appealing Spanish vocal passages, delivered with a warmth and passion only rivalled by plenty of singers from the Italian discs of the same era.

After a stormy rising and falling symphonic synth and mellow guitar strains introduction, the almost ten minute opener `Alameda' diverts briefly into some Genesis-like pomp before transforming into a frantic rocker. Thick pulsing bass, cascading synth runs and deranged drums duel and race alongside each-other, and Spanish flavours woven to some grooving hard guitars really start to cook once they take off and solo frantically in the second half. Constant and thrilling jazz-fusion instrumental runs tear through `Más Allá...' with breakneck energy and speed. Purring relentless bass, manically biting and funky electric guitar strumming and glistening electric piano is sprinkled over every inch of it, with some darker themes aided by imposing deep-space synths emerging in the latter half as well.

`Solucion A Un Viejo Problema' begin as a more pleasing rock ballad, a mellow tune that takes on some magical Yes-like qualities and murmuring bass so fluid that it leaps about as if it's actually singing! But there's plenty of time in the final minutes for the tune to burst up in tempo and shoot off with nimble fingered synth/electric piano flashes and electric guitar taking on a seriously cutting snarl! The eleven minute closer `Pasa Un Dia' rocks with momentum and purpose. Fading in with distortion, electric piano tip-toes and a howling lead vocal, it's all just a framing device for the band to shoot through the stars to the intergalactic nightclub with an improvised space-rock delirious jam - go on, hit the dance-floor with your tentacled space babe - no judgement! This section is all grooving swagger and sweaty grooves with plenty of loopy synth noodling. The twinkling star-field electronic pause that follows only lets you catch your breath for a second before the disc closes on a vocal reprise and slow-burn simmering guitar finale alongside raucous drumming.

Don't be put off by the brisk running time of barely 33 minutes. It may be short, but it's pretty much adventurous rock music perfection that entire time, and with the album not long enough to allow any filler to infiltrate, there's not a wasted or throwaway second. `Más Allá de Nuestras Mentes Diminuta' is a showcase for a group of incredibly skilled musicians delivering fiery instrumental displays within tight song arrangements, and the fact that it's a debut album is astounding, just so much confidence and talent coursing through every second of it. One thing's for sure also - not as many albums will put you as great a mood as this one!

Four and a half stars for this fairly unappreciated little Spanish gem!