EL PROFETA

From Spain, the new instrumental act Bijou offers one of the most interesting instrumental symphonic prog recordings for the last years: "El Profeta" is a most attractive catalogue of catchy compositions, each one of them craftily arranged for the solid interactions between all instrumentalists. The band's symphonic essence is properly incarnated in the use of clear melodic lines and stylish harmonic foundations: regarding these specific factors, the labour of keyboardist Rubén García's proves crucial for the overall articulation of the ensemble's sound. The light-hearted orchestrations provided by García consistently set the band up on the trend of neo-prog, while the dual guitar inputs sometimes lead Bijou closer to Satriani/Vai hard rock territory, but all things considered, the band's main essence is definitely progressive in a modern fashion. The development of the main melodic lines never gets overdone: on the contrary, the guitarists and keyboardist's skills are ordained under the precise demands of each particular theme, and the soloing gets to a moderately indulgent level, always keeping a sense of elegance and a preoccupation for the maintenance of the interaction's fluidity. The stunning opener 'Los Albores del Fuego Imperecedero' and 'Triste Euforia' are perfect examples of the features I've just pointed out - these are two of the most archetypical Bijou numbers. 'El Camino a Casa' explores the hard rock facet further, while tracks 3 & 4 exhibit a well-balanced compromise between symph prog and hard rock. 'Sueño en la Noche de los Tiempos' finds the band leaning closer to contemporary jazz-rock (a la Tribal Tech, CAB) - a special mention goes to bassist Alberto Mateos' individual input for this track, of which he's also the writer. So far, things have proved interesting to excellent in a solid manner, but the best is yet to come. The three-part namesake suite that closes down the album comprises the greatest dose of musical excellence in the album. The colorfulness and energy that is displayed all through the different linked motifs portrays an almost architectural beauty, yet it is performed with evident warmth, in this way, creating an aura of positive vibes in the listener's room. The 'Recuerdos de Invierno' contains some Arabic textures that come to the fore, a thing that serve to introduce some exotic flavours into the sonic landscape. This band is really young, so it is no surprise that their inspired musical ideas is not accompanied by a more challenging treatment of them, but the positive signs of talent and enthusiasm are so powerful that we can only be optimistic about what they may bring in future recordings. Rating: 3.5 stars, very good, almost excellent.