CONFESIONES DE INVIERNO

Being Peruvian, and due to the proximity of our countries, we've been bombarded by plenty Argentinean bands, some excellent, other terrible, but SUI GENERIS is one of the best ones I ever heard.

The fact is that I grew listening "Confesiones de Invierno", which I never saw as Prog, but with the pass of the years I dare to say has more relation with Progressive Rock most people believe, due to the strong melody, radical changes, orchestral arrangements and intelligent lyrics.

If we want to understand the connection between SUI GENERIS and Prog, we need to know the great admiration that Charly García felt for PROCOL HARUM plus the strong influence of the melodic Italian Symphonic that influenced so much the Argentinean scenario.

As a note I must say that Charly was ahead of the other members of the band, transforming them from an acoustic act into a full Prog expression with the addition of a Hammond organ and a Moog, but that came later.

In "Confesiones de Invierno" he only plays piano, but the Orchestral arrangements by Gustavo Beytelman add the Symphonic touch that matches perfectly with the melodic music and makes it worth of the inclusion in Prog Archives.

The album starts with "Cuando ya me Empieze a Quedar Solo" (When I start to stay alone) and it's dramatic intro with piano and excellent vocals, the pessimistic lyrics begin to create a melancholic atmosphere, the music goes "in crescendo" and it explodes in a short Rock passage and leads back to the sad mood only to move to another climax where the band plays with some orchestral arrangements which along with the beautiful melody give the Symphonic touch. Fantastic track.

"Bienvenidos al Tren" (Welcome to the Train) is a simpler track based in a catchy rhythm, closer to Argentinean early Rock than to Prog, but still the lyrics and arrangements make it worth listening.

"Un Hada, un Cisne" (A Fairy, a Swam) is an unusually long track in which the band moves closer to Fusion territory lead by Charly's excellent piano and Nito Mestre's clear voice, is surprising how easily they morph from song to song, as if we were listening different bands. The only constant is the melancholic mood that prevails all along the album.

"Confesiones de Invierno" (Winter Confessions) can only be described as a masterpiece, the song is in first person as a narration and tells the story of a man who is thrown by his couple from the house because his inability to do anything. from that point his anger and frustration leads the guy to prison, from where he doesn't want to leave. The music is soft but perfectly structured with some explosions specially when the narrator shows his anger against everything, beautiful melody, almost perfect track.

"Rasguña las Piedras" (Scratch the Stones), is another masterpiece in first person, some people believe it's about a woman buried alive and rescued by the singer, others believe it's only the expression of pain from a man who's real love has been buried the day before.

The music is complex and well elaborate, goes from soft and calmed to frantic and almost desperate, the piano an orchestra are out of his world, the vocals are perfect, and on the other side Rinaldo Rafanelli (Bass) with Juan Rodríguez (drums) remembering us we are in front of a Rock band.......Outstanding.

"Lunes Otra Vez" (Monday Again) is another simpler blues based Rock track with some interesting moments, followed by "Aprendizaje" (learning), almost in the same vein, even when the vocals and the acoustic guitar make it much better, nice pair of songs.

"Mr. Jones, o Pequeña Semblanza de una Familia Tipo Americana" (Mr. Jones, or Small Portrait of a Typical American Family), starts with the only phrase in English that I can't repeat, but don't be afraid is a 50's styled Rock track that makes mockery of the "typical" American family, with clear references to the Addams Family, very entertaining if you understand the lyrics, so if you don't speak Spanish, get a translation for all the album it's worth.

"Tribulaciones, lamento y Ocaso de un Tonto Rey Imaginario" (Tribulations, Laments and Decline of a Foolish Imaginary King) is an extremely dramatic song with the best piano in performance in the album, radical changes and wonderful lyrics about what seems to be a reference to Argentinean dictators. By far one of the best closers of an album I ever heard.

Now...How can I rate this album?

If I let my nostalgia free (Something hard to do when you grew loving this release), I can't go with less than 5 stars, but this wouldn't be accurate, because the album is excellent but not completely essential for a Prog collection, plus the fact that has a couple of weaker (not bad) tracks, so I will go with 4 stars.