EL VUELO DE LOS OLVIDADOS

Truth to be told, I didn't even know this Argentinan band a couple of hours ago. What makes me want to review this album - that I was just listening to from YouTube as a background listening for working - is the fact that there's only one rather unfavourable review. Apps79's objective description of the music actually isn't anything I would strongly disagree, but to me two stars feels a bit hard for such a pleasant album like this. "Anyone expecting the participation of [keyboardist Charly] Garcia would made a huge impact will be extremely dissapointed, as the album contains sporadic and very mellow keyboard colors throughout", he writes. Well, I had no expectations of any kind, and because of the low ratings I was prepared to change once again the haphazardly PA-picked Crossover Prog band in the Tube. I was happily delighted during my listening.

Yes, there's a strong ballad atmosphere on most tracks. But I find the album entity also dynamic enough to recommend it for anyone interested to hear mellow late-70's prog sung in Spanish. Something not so every-day stuff, right? The lead vocals of Jorge Garacotche are tender and clean, a bit like Don McLean on his highest, and the harmonies work well. The instrumentation favours acoustic guitar, and I wonder if this could be categorized as Prog Folk as well. On some songs piano does a great effect as the lead instrument. There's also at least one instrumental track (understandably I can't go into track-by-track details as I'm listening the album from YouTube).

The key word is mellowness, no doubt of that. Forget this if you're searching for edgy and complex prog. If you're fond of soft, pastoral and emotionally oriented Crossover or folk-oriented prog with light arrangements, I bet you'll have lots to enjoy here. 3½ stars rounded upwards.