DEPOIS DO FIM

This album puts on display some very skilled--virtuoso--musicians doing prog in a kind of jazz fusion-FOCUS way. The Brazilian roots are often discernible just below the melody lines--in the rhythms and a few instruments used in the background embellishments.

The first song, according to the order that came with my download, is "Caño" (8/10). Two minutes long, it shows off the band's seemless cohesiveness. It sounds very CAMEL-like. The second song,

"Controvérsia" (8/10) also all of two minutes long, puts on display the keyboard player's virtuosity.

The third song, the title song (8/10), has a kind of ELP-folk feel to it?amplified by the female vocals that arrive soon into the song. This is the first song that introduces us to DICK DALE-CARLOS SANTANA-JAN AKKERMAN-like guitarist extraordinaire Mario Neto.

"Miragem" (8/10) sounds as if it came right off the early FOCUS records, and is clearly another vehicle to show off the prowess of Mario Neto.

The brief "Pássaro de luz" (8/10) is another semi-classical folk-rock tune showing the prodigious skills of the acoustic guitarists (obviously classically trained and skilled).

"Smog alado" (7/10) is quite FOCUS-plays-Canterbury-like with flutes, bass and drums holding a jam groove. But then there is a shift in speed (into overdrive) before downshifting again to support the brief vocal work of Jane Duboc. (A nice voice. Somewhat reminiscent of CURVED AIR's SONJA KRISTINA?as is the style and production sound of this album.)

"UFO" (8/10) begins with a rather medieval/Renaissance sound before shifting full modern with drums, synths and electrified guitars in a kind of SERGIO LEONE Spaghetti Western style. Next male monk chants precede a section of classical guitar, "Classical Gas" sound, and clay flutes bring us back to the Sergio Leone movie soundtrack feel.

"Último entardecer" (8/10) brings us to the dusty streets of the old West, waiting in front of the saloon for the bad guy to emerge for the final gunfight of the late afternoon. Love the background guitar strum groove over which Jane and Mario sing and shred, respectively. A beautiful classical dramatic section around the six minute mark is ended with a kind of lounge diva outro section in which Jane's voice is treated for, I believe, the first time?to great effect. (They could use more effects to enrich their sound, IMHO.)

An album of sophisticated compositions performed by some unarguably skilled musicians. My complaint with this album: Mario Neto's electric guitar sound is kind of 'old school/archaic' (hence the Dick Dale reference). I wish he'd have chosen a different sound with which to convey his bursts of light speed. Or maybe it's just that I don't really enjoy his 'one speed only' shredding.

Excellent addition to any prog lover's music collection, but, I'm sorry, I do not believe that this is a five star essential masterpiece.