EL JARDÍN DE LOS PRESENTES

Indubitably, Luis A. Spinetta is a fantastic composer.

The music of "El jardín de los presentes" displays influences of Tango and Jazz, but the result is a refined symphonic Rock; and that is a common tendency in "Invisible" .

Lyrics are surrealistic, maybe as the Yes´s lyrics, but it tells about daily things. Some songs:

(a)"El anillo del Capitán Beto": this song narrates the story of "Capitán Beto" (Captain Beto). He's a bus driver, and the song tells an "astronautic story" about him.

(b)"Las golondrinas de Plaza de Mayo": this song displays the life of "golondrinas" (swallows, a kind of birds) of "Plaza de Mayo" (the most important square of Buenos Aires), and emphasizes in the birds's liberty.

Marcos (Argentina)

This band started as a trio, led by guitarist/singer Alberto Spinetta who came from the band Pescado Rabioso, he is one of the most prolific Argentine musicians. This third album is their most progressive sounding effort, also because of the more frequent use of keyboards and I love the sound of the bandoneon. The music of Invisible on this album reminds me of the Seventies Italian Prog, very compelling and featuring strong, often emotional. To me the vocals of Luis Alberto Spinetta are a bit similar to Jon Anderson but as the Spanish version! I was delighted about the guitarwork, very powerful with lots of great soli with elements from Santana and Steve Howe. A CD to discover if you like the very distinctive sound of the Latin-American prog!

First of all I would like to say that I don't agree with the fact that Invisible is labeled as Symphonic Prog.The term Jazz fusion would suite them much better.I think that this is important because this may confuse newcomers to the band (especially not spanish speakers)

This is the third and last album by this trio , who has now become a quartet due to the inclusion of guitar virtuoso Tomas Gubitsch.When listening to Spinetta's albums lyrics are a very important aspect so probably non spanish speakers won't be able to appreciate this at first , specially with this album that manages to build a very prominent porteño feel (by the way porteños are the citizens of Buenos Aires).

That being said , the album is mainly a blend of rock , jazz and tango. You can appreciate that due to the work of guest mucisians like bandeonists Juan Jose Mosalini and Rodolfo Mederos.If I were asked about the album's standout tracks I would say that they are the opener El anillo del Capitan Beto , whose lyrics are about the loliness a common man who was a bus driver feels when he is put on a space voyage , reminding his relatives and little every day stuff that he misses so much.

The other standout tracks are Los libros de la buena memoria and the instrumental Alarma entre los Angeles.Lastly I'll add that this album is a landmark in argentinian and latin american progressive music and deserves to be listened by every fan.

4.5 stars. INVISIBLE are from Argentina and they released 3 albums in the seventies before calling it quits. Luis Spinetta was the leader and an incredible talent. He played lead guitar and sang on the first two albums, but on this the final record they brought in this virtuoso to play lead guitar while Luis sang while still adding some guitar.Their first album blew me away and I gave it 4.5 stars, the second was more laid back and just didn't grab me like the debut so I gave it 3 stars. I really put off listening to this one assuming it would be like the last one but how wrong I was. Sure this is laid back for the most part but it's beyond beautiful, just a gorgeous record that deserves 4.5 stars as well. What a talented band ! I was reminded of the the Italian greats at times with the amazing vocals and incredible instrumental work.

"El Anillo Del Captain Beto" sounds so incredibly good and the Spanish vocals are so moving.The drums beat lightly while the bass throbs and the guitar gently plays. A gorgeous track. "Los Libros De La Buena Memoria" opens with sounds that echo as reserved vocals come in. Some accordion before 3 minutes. A mellow tune. "Alarma Entre Los Angeles" is an instrumental with drums and guitar leading the way early.This one's more dynamic but then it settles in tastefully. Some intricate guitar here as it solos throughout beautifully. "Que Ves El Cielo" is a good track that's laid back with vocals.

"Ruido De Magia" is another gorgeous sounding tune with vocals.Tasteful guitar as the bass throbs.The tempo picks up briefly then it turns dreamy. So moving 4 minutes in. "Doscientos Anos" is pastoral with the focus on the vocals. I like the vocal melodies before 3 1/2 minutes. "Nino Condenado" has a good intro, I like the bass and drums. Vocals before 2 minutes. It kicks in after 2 1/2 minutes. Nice. This is the most powerful passage on the album and it returns around 5 1/2 minutes in.What a song ! Check out the guitar late. "Las Golondrinas De Plaza De Mayo" has this nice laid back rhythm with vocals. An uplifting track.

A must in my opinion for fans of beautiful, melodic music.

Invisible's El Jardín de los Presentes is a mellow mixture of melodic progressive rock, jazz- tinged soul, tango and folk. I have to be in a particular mood to fully appreciate it, but on balance it's a charming album which ably balances gentle, relaxing passages with moments of emotional splendour wrought from the screaming neck of Tommy Gubitsch's guitar. Luis Alberto Spinetta's soothing vocals are perhaps the key to the album's incredibly laid-back atmosphere, and it's notable for an acoustic style reminiscent of the more pastoral of the Italian prog bands and its unusual lack of synthesisers or keyboards for a mid-1970s progressive rock album.

The third album from Invisible is a complete masterpiece! It is their last album, the one with the shortest songs and, maybe for that reason, the easiest to listen, but that doesn't make it bad. One can experiment a lot of sounds here: sweet ballads, jazz-rock instrumentals and explosive voices. Also the lyrics are very good (I can speak and understand spanish perfectly). I must recomend Los Libros De La Buena Memoria (The Books Of Good Memory), Ruido De Magia (Magic's Noise) and Niño Condenado (Convicted Child) as my faves from this album. It is really a masterpiece, a must have for any spanish prog fan, and perhaps for any prog fan.

3.5 stars really

Third album - El Jardín de los Presentes from 1976 is their best one for sure, or at least to me and is their most well known and in same time their last one, they disbanded in early 1977. On their previous albums they were a trio, he joined here the excellent guitarist Tommy Gubitsch who gives a jazier sound and atmophere and the result is great. Also there are some latin fusion elements thrown in and is quite enjoyble and solid in same time. Intricate and complicated arrangements even has some laid back parts, most of the time is complicated and well written. El Anillo Del Captain Beto defines Invisible sound with intelligent and catchy parts, very nice, Ruido De Magia is another highlight. Definetly one of the better bands from Argentina from glory days of prog with particulary this third album as their best.

One of the greatest works of Argentine music. This album should be listened to by every human being on the planet who likes music even a little bit. There is not a single song that is not worth listening to. It is Invisible's jazziest [jazz/fusion] album. Being the last work by this band, Luis Alberto Spinetta was more than satisfied with the sound that was achieved and poured all his jazz impulses into his next new band Spinetta Jade. The masterpiece of this album is "Perdonado". Spinetta took KC's Fallen Angel and did it all over again, with a pot full of spices such as aggression, impact, lead guitars and a heartbreaking voice. The final solo is the most delicious.

El Anillo Del Capitán Beto (4,5/5) Los Libros De La Buena Memoria (5/5) Alarma Entre Los Angeles (5/5) Que Ves El Cielo (2,5/5) Ruido De Magia (4/5) Doscientos Años (4,5/5) Perdonado (5/5) Las Golondrinas De Plaza De Mayo (4,5/5)