AL-BANDALUZ

3.5 stars. All of CAST's album are well done and this is no exception, in fact it's one of the better recordings i've heard from them.This is a double album which doesn't exactly thrill me, but at least each disc is under 50 minutes.

"Viajero Inmovil" has this drum / keyboard intro that is fairly aggressive as sax joins in. Killer sound here. It changes completely though 1 1/2 minutes in when it settles.The tempo does continue to shift though. Good tune. "Jerezcali (Pueblo De Dos Mundos)" has an orchestral vibe as sounds also pulse. A calm after 1 1/2 minutes then the piano leads followed by vocals. It does get fuller as vocals continue. Synths swirl after 6 minutes. "Encrucijada" is a long 17 1/2 minute instrumental. Piano to start then it turns heavier quickly. Horns before 2 minutes start to come and go. It settles with piano before 8 minutes then it picks up again with piano still leading. It's heavier again before 13 minutes. "Lamento Del Gato" is fairly powerful to start then it settles back some after 2 minutes. It settles even more after 3 1/2 minutes then reserved vocals join in. Flute too.Good song. "Damajuana" is an instrumental that ends disc one. Piano melodies to start then flute and a beat arrive before a minute. Other sounds join in. Not a bad track.

Disc Two begins with "Vionto".This is mellow with fragile vocals, flute, piano and a beat. "El Puente" opens with piano and a beat. Guitar starts to lead before 3 minutes then it backs off some as keyboards and drums help out. Piano only before 6 1/2 minuites then reserved vocals join in. It does pick up but the tempo continues to shift. Some prominant vocal melodies come and go late then soaring guitar ends it. "La Bellesta" is piano only really until around 4 minutes when the flute and vocals help out. "Ensamble Al-Maya" opens with percussion as guitar joins in. It's heavier around 3 1/2 minutes. "Ansia, Angustia Desesperacion" is a fairly powerful instrumental song to end the recording. It does settle 4 1/2 minutes in then the guitar comes in as it picks back up.

This is a really good recording and in my opinion one of their best.