HECHO EN MÉXICO

There are a lot of adjectives that one can use while listening to a band like Cabezas de Cera, their music can transport you to new worlds and put images in your mind in almost every single song they compose, that's something that not all the bands can achieve. So as you know, I am a big follower and supporter of this band, so with this new review I hope more people get interested in their music, believe me, they are worth listening.

Cabezas de Cera's "Hecho en México" is an album with new compositions, however this was recorded live and released in the last days of 2007, thankfully, I could attend to the introduction of this album, which remains as one of my favorite CDC concerts I have ever witnessed. This album features nine songs and a total time of 90 minutes, and once again, one can listen to exquisite music that comes from the experimentation and ambition of these three talented Mexican musicians.

It kicks off with "Tercera Llamada" which happens to be the shortest song of the album. It has their distinctive sound as a trio, drums-winds-strings, since the first minutes one can notice the complexity and creativity they share, it is common to hear that the instruments as individuals have their own world, however, the three of them manage to create unity, and a strong song.

One thing that features this band is the exquisite use of electronic drums, so they can create sounds that one cannot imagine drums would do. This can be appreciated in the second track called "Tiroxina Rex", whose sound transmits a lot of things, it is not the common music with a common structure, no, it is challenging and unique, that's why I love them. In some of their tracks, you can appreciate both, the explosion and the calm, this song is not the exception.

"Peregrino" is a pretty nice song that seduces the listener. The first moments are full of Mauricio's great acoustic guitar playing, along with that delicate sound produced by Ramses' winds, and of course, the always precise use of Paco's drums. This is a soft, in moments peaceful track that can make you close your eyes and see things, create a story and enjoy the colors and textures it suggests. After three minutes the song changes a little bit, becomes stronger for moments, but then it slows down again, creating a nice mix of emotions.

"Al Mictlán" starts softly and gradually progresses, the atmosphere is quite friendly, there are moments where some kind of eastern sound appears, at least I feel it. Before minute three the stick takes the leadership and shows once more the musician's skills. This is an excellent song, however is one of those that I simply don't love.

On the other hand, the next track is one of my all-time CDC favorites, "Laberinto" which since the first time I listen to it in a concert, let me perplexed, with my mouth, mind and ears wide open and enjoying every single second of what I was listening; right now, that feeling has not changed at all. This is an extraordinary composition which starts with electronic drums, then winds and strings join little by little and begin to build up a structure, begin to fly and put together different elements and nuances that catch the listener's senses, and retain them until the very end.

"Rompecabezas" is a thirteen-minute track, the longest composition here, which shows once again their capacity and great compositional skills. It starts with a relaxed atmosphere for the first minute, but later it changes, creating a jazzy sound with some strange noises as background, the eclecticism of this band is always welcomed, you can tell it by this song. The piece is divided in several parts, some of them a bit heavier, some other calmer and relaxing. So here, you can expect nothing but a mixture of sounds gathered together in one body. However, I had to admit, that this is not really my favorite song.

"Corazón Alegre" is a beautiful composition with a charming sound. The stick and flute together create together a friendly moment, it is like watching the sunrise. Later the song changes a little bit, but its essence is still the same. Here I imagine the story of a person thinking about the world's nature and beauty. Minutes later the song becomes a bit funkier, where stick and drums build a new sound. A pretty enjoyable track!

Now if you want more experimentation, check out "Parkour" a unique song that I particularly enjoy a lot when I listen to it, either from my CD, or in a concert. Different sections of passages here, that maintain you expectant, waiting and asking yourself what's next, when you feel the song is stuck, then it suddenly explodes and makes everyone's head and body move (I've seen it in the different shows I've attended). There is a great vibe on this song, the music and the band invite you to explore new lands and actually, to explore yourself and know some hidden behaviors of you.

Last but not least is "Caguamán" which I have to tell, is not the perfect closer song, I have never felt comfortable with this as the last one of this great album, I don't really know why. It is actually a great song, It is obvious, but I simply did not like it was the final track here, maybe at the middle of the album I could enjoy it more, I don't know. But well, here once more they create interesting moods and atmospheres, the winds, stick and drums complement each other very well.

Hecho en México is an extraordinary album by this wonderful band, it is clearly not my personal favorite of them, however, it is a strong record that any progressive rock fan should listen, the music here is not the conventional prog, it is original, unique I would say. My final rating is four stars.

Enjoy it!

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