CONFESIONES DE INVIERNO

The second album by 'Sui' follows in the same way. Mainly, compositions with the song form and a really interesting arrangement. Here, the most prog-related songs are: 'Cuando ya me empiece a quedar solo': it's a 'tango-related' and very emotive song which tells us about the old age of the life / 'Un hada, un cisne' is a jazzy song with modulations and more than one rythmhs / 'Rasguña las piedras': this is one of the most popular songs in Argentina. But It's a song with a complex harmonization and instrumentation. / 'Tribulaciones, lamentos y ocaso de un tonto rey imaginario, o no is an ironic song about the authoritarian goverments. It's a very exciting song. The best of this one are the climaxes and the dynamics. / Again, the other songs are great compositions. 'Confesiones de invierno' was another great album.

3 stars. Good, but not essencial.

Sui Generis, the root of that bird`s machine.

In 1969 Argentina saw the creation of one of their most important rock bands in their history, Sui Generis was created when two well known musicians gathered together after haveing played in other bands, Charly Garcia and Nito Mestre put together their musical ideas and formed this band.

Sui Generis played an important role in the Argentinian rock scene since that was the band which some years later gave light to La Maquina de Hacer Pajaros, which created the album called Peliculas and its one of my personal favourite pro albums from that country, La Maquina de Hacer Pajaros and Seru Giran were more prog oriented that Sui Generis, but its important to know the roots of everything, Sui Generis was very popular at the moment, and still one of the better recognized bands in the Argentinian rock history.

They released 3 albums, the second one released in 1973 and named Confesiones de Invierno featuring 9 songs and a total lenght of 35 minutes, i first discovered La Maquina de Hacer Pajaros, i loved the music and wanted to search more about their roots, that is how i found out Sui Generis as its predecesor.

It all starts with Cuando ya me empece a quedar solo, a soft piano driven song, very catchy tunes with some vocal armonies, Charly Garcia is a prolific musician, some people may not like his work, i particularly do, he is clearly the leader of the band. Bienvenidos al Tren , the piano leadership is evident, it is not a superb playing but it clearly marks the way of the musical compass and everything, there is some harmonica making a bluesy tone, the song itself has that catchy sound that makes something popular, nice vocals armonies. Un hada, un cisne is a soft song with melodic vocals and a slow tempo drumming, kind of a ballad the first half, while in the second we will notice their jazzy tendencies, nice piano work and pleasant bass playing. Confesiones de Invierno the title track is basically an acoustic guitar + vocals song, reminding me to some local singers/songwriters. Rasguña las piedras has the same tendency, soft and melodic music, catchy tunes with very nice vocal armonies, the keyboard work is pretty good with the ambience created, we will listen to some wind instruments, a singable chorus. Lunes otra vez an even catchier song which im sure was popular in those times (in Argentina, of course), there are some similarities with this kind of popular music with some mexican popular bands from that era. Aprendizajes fllows the same line, easy listening and not complex music, nice lyrics and vocals, there are some nice flute sound as well. Mr. Jones, o pequeña semblanza de una familia tipo americana is a short rock and roll song, different from the other ones, pretty good but there are thousands of better songs in this vein, there is a good guitar solo over there. Tribulaciones, lamento y ocaso de un tonto rey imaginario, o no , with this track the album finishes, piano and vocals at the beginning, then there are some keyboard background making the sound of a vocal chorus, the song follows the same line until the last minute which becomes stronger and a bit rockier, reminding me a bit to some english folk moments.

Let me explain you something, giving 2 stars to an album does not neccessary mean that is a bad album,this is NOT a bad album at all, its nice and i personally would grade it with 3 stars, but in the other hand the album is not prog at all, that is why is listed as prog related, my grade will be 2 stars because i consider it wouldn`t be a worth addition to anyone who is looking for prog in specific, but if you like Argentinian music, and enjoy what Charly Garcia has done throughout the years, this is for you.

Enjoy it!

Roughly 3.5 stars rounded up.

A clear improvement over the debut in all levels: songwriting, performance, lyrics, depth, emotion. The album is a bit more mature, though it doesn't totally leave behind the cheery naive sound of the debut behind, as you can clearly hear on the catchy piano track "Bienvenidos al Tren".

"Cuando Yo me Comienze a Quedar Solo" starts with a somber piano while it has more uptempo choruses. This is as good (if not better) as the non-opener highlights from "Vida".

"Un Hada, Un Cisne" is one of the highlights and borders on genius. It is a folk-jazz tune which has a fantastic fast-paced instrumental part while the vocal sections may be even better, being probably my favorite harmony-vocal work in all Sui Generis.

"Confesiones de Invierno" is a neat acoustic ballad. I personally enjoy it due to the vocal melodies but I can imagine some proggers might find it too simple. "Aprendizaje" is similar but has a bit more of instrumentation and better vocal performance, a highlight for me.

"Rasguña las Piedras" is where the album sounds the most like the debut. Musically it sounds catchy and a bit naïve (the small orchestra is used for simple riffs and melodies). This might be the band's 2nd best-known track and it's pretty good.

"Mr Jones" is a satire on American lifestyle and apparently homicidal tendencies. The intro is funny (I was wondering what that English part said when I didn't know English) but the song is kinda dumb lyrically and musically. Just a satirical rock&roll filler.

"Tribulaciones ." is the last highlight of the album and might be the only hint of the band's unexpected turn to political symphonic prog in the next album. It is a very mellow and symphonic ballad in which the lamenting vocals and lonely piano take the spotlight. I absolutely love it when the band goes into dramatic vocal harmonies at minute three and at the end of the song. The climax is hauntingly powerful tho underdeveloped. Nevertheless, the only prog-related song in the album is a winner and the lyrics are amazing.

If you want to hear the non-prog side of Sui Generis, this is the album to go. Recommended, especially if you understand Spanish.

Being Peruvian, and due to the proximity of our countries, we've been bombarded by plenty Argentinean bands, some excellent, other terrible, but SUI GENERIS is one of the best ones I ever heard.

The fact is that I grew listening "Confesiones de Invierno", which I never saw as Prog, but with the pass of the years I dare to say has more relation with Progressive Rock most people believe, due to the strong melody, radical changes, orchestral arrangements and intelligent lyrics.

If we want to understand the connection between SUI GENERIS and Prog, we need to know the great admiration that Charly García felt for PROCOL HARUM plus the strong influence of the melodic Italian Symphonic that influenced so much the Argentinean scenario.

As a note I must say that Charly was ahead of the other members of the band, transforming them from an acoustic act into a full Prog expression with the addition of a Hammond organ and a Moog, but that came later.

In "Confesiones de Invierno" he only plays piano, but the Orchestral arrangements by Gustavo Beytelman add the Symphonic touch that matches perfectly with the melodic music and makes it worth of the inclusion in Prog Archives.

The album starts with "Cuando ya me Empieze a Quedar Solo" (When I start to stay alone) and it's dramatic intro with piano and excellent vocals, the pessimistic lyrics begin to create a melancholic atmosphere, the music goes "in crescendo" and it explodes in a short Rock passage and leads back to the sad mood only to move to another climax where the band plays with some orchestral arrangements which along with the beautiful melody give the Symphonic touch. Fantastic track.

"Bienvenidos al Tren" (Welcome to the Train) is a simpler track based in a catchy rhythm, closer to Argentinean early Rock than to Prog, but still the lyrics and arrangements make it worth listening.

"Un Hada, un Cisne" (A Fairy, a Swam) is an unusually long track in which the band moves closer to Fusion territory lead by Charly's excellent piano and Nito Mestre's clear voice, is surprising how easily they morph from song to song, as if we were listening different bands. The only constant is the melancholic mood that prevails all along the album.

"Confesiones de Invierno" (Winter Confessions) can only be described as a masterpiece, the song is in first person as a narration and tells the story of a man who is thrown by his couple from the house because his inability to do anything. from that point his anger and frustration leads the guy to prison, from where he doesn't want to leave. The music is soft but perfectly structured with some explosions specially when the narrator shows his anger against everything, beautiful melody, almost perfect track.

"Rasguña las Piedras" (Scratch the Stones), is another masterpiece in first person, some people believe it's about a woman buried alive and rescued by the singer, others believe it's only the expression of pain from a man who's real love has been buried the day before.

The music is complex and well elaborate, goes from soft and calmed to frantic and almost desperate, the piano an orchestra are out of his world, the vocals are perfect, and on the other side Rinaldo Rafanelli (Bass) with Juan Rodríguez (drums) remembering us we are in front of a Rock band.......Outstanding.

"Lunes Otra Vez" (Monday Again) is another simpler blues based Rock track with some interesting moments, followed by "Aprendizaje" (learning), almost in the same vein, even when the vocals and the acoustic guitar make it much better, nice pair of songs.

"Mr. Jones, o Pequeña Semblanza de una Familia Tipo Americana" (Mr. Jones, or Small Portrait of a Typical American Family), starts with the only phrase in English that I can't repeat, but don't be afraid is a 50's styled Rock track that makes mockery of the "typical" American family, with clear references to the Addams Family, very entertaining if you understand the lyrics, so if you don't speak Spanish, get a translation for all the album it's worth.

"Tribulaciones, lamento y Ocaso de un Tonto Rey Imaginario" (Tribulations, Laments and Decline of a Foolish Imaginary King) is an extremely dramatic song with the best piano in performance in the album, radical changes and wonderful lyrics about what seems to be a reference to Argentinean dictators. By far one of the best closers of an album I ever heard.

Now...How can I rate this album?

If I let my nostalgia free (Something hard to do when you grew loving this release), I can't go with less than 5 stars, but this wouldn't be accurate, because the album is excellent but not completely essential for a Prog collection, plus the fact that has a couple of weaker (not bad) tracks, so I will go with 4 stars.

Review #19: Confesiones de Invierno

Dios es empleado en un mostrador, da para recibir.

Undoubtedly, no matter what you ask an Argentinean, he will always tell you that one of the most important pillars in the history of national rock is "Confesiones de Invierno".

Confesiones de Invierno, second album by Sui Generis (duo formed by Nito Mestre & Charly García), is an album full of adventure and magic, mixing from folklore to tango, always in a very adolescent and emotional aspect to captivate everyone who listens to their work. Definitely, as I said in my previous review, towards "Vida" (Sui's debut album), Charly is one of the most prolific musicians in all of rock, not only nationally, but also in history, taking into account bands led by him like "La Máquina de Hacer Pájaros" or "Serú Girán", but that's for another time :)

This album has a great musical accompaniment by many of the figures of the national scene at that time, such as:

Francisco Prati: Drums

David Lebón: Electric guitar, bass guitar

Rodolfo Mederos: Bandoneón

León Gieco: Harmonica in Welcome to the Train

Juan Rodríguez: Drums

Alejandro "Pipi" Correa: Bass

Alejandro Medina: Bass

"Cuando ya me Empiece Quedar Solo" (5/5) is a melancholic and emotional rock tango with a beastly lyric, that can reach anyone. By far, the best song on the whole album, and I would dare to say one of the best introductions to an album in all of national rock.

"Bienvenidos al Tren" (4/5) is an upbeat campfire song, which, as far as I can make out, tells of a young man's planned escape because he is fed up with society, its mediocrity and its taking advantage of poor and innocent people. And so he invites his beloved and a couple of friends and acquaintances to join him on this adventurous journey.

"Un Hada, Un Cisne" (5/5) This lyric could be based on mythological tales, which I will try to summarise in the best possible way: Leda, wife of Tindareus of Sparta, was another of Zeus' human lovers. When she was walking by the Aryan Eurotas, she was raped by Zeus, disguised as a swan. As a result, she laid two eggs from which four children were born: Jelena, Clytemestra, Castor and Pollux, although only Helen and Pollux are considered children of Zeus. Leda is later deified by Nemesis, the goddess of just punishment. In older versions, Leda simply finds an egg containing the germ of Helen, daughter of Zeus and Nemesis. In that story, Nemesis tries to escape from Zeus by metamorphosis, turning herself into different animals in order to escape from the god. But Zeus does exactly the same and compensates for each change with his own, until finally she turns into a goose and he rapes her in the form of a swan. He then lays the egg in a swamp where Leda finds it. In other versions, Zeus, transformed into a swan and pretending to be in danger, takes refuge in the womb of Nemesis and then rapes her. Hermes puts the egg on Leda's thighs so that she will be the one to "light" it ("Ella quería amar a un cisne de agua y sal. Y para ella, el sol nunca volvió a brillar").

"Confessions of Winter" (17/20). Theme of the same name. This song is a guitar, which accompanies Charly. The lyrics talk at first sight, about a relationship that ends, because he has no profession and is left in the street (Me echó de su cuarto gritándome "no tienes profesión"). This character, apparently, is left in the street desolate, cold (It's cold and I lack a coat, and I'm hungry from waiting). After wandering the streets, he gets drunk in a bar and is taken away by the police who end up beating him (I got liquor and got drunk, in the bathroom of a bar..., ...And although I had never drunk, I had to end up in jail, the bail was paid by a friend, the wounds are the officer's). This last phrase was applauded by the audience at the band's farewell concert. The song ends with him saying that he found a good place to stay, a madhouse, and is finally at peace, albeit melancholic.

"Rasguña Las Piedras" (4/5). This song has raised a lot of theories and stories invented by García fans, mainly because of its lyrics. There are several versions about the origin. One version says that it talks about a girlfriend Charly had who was "dead" (catalepsy) and they buried her. Some time later they had to exhume the body and when they opened the coffin they found that it was all scratched up. In other words, she was buried alive. Another version says that it is a hymn to the military coup of 1976 in Argentina. The story of the dead, disappeared and detained in clandestine centres, where they were locked up in isolation cells, with their hands tied and blindfolded, listening hour after hour to how the others were tortured. However, this song was composed a couple of years before the coup. Another is the love story between a boy and a girl, in which the girl was crushed by a wall, and the protagonist narrates what happens and his helplessness at not being able to save her. She scratches at the stones to get out, he listens and tries to do something, but cannot. All these versions were denied by Charly García himself in an interview. He says that the lyrics came to him one day while his ex-partner Maria Rosa Yorio was going to buy something. When she came back, the song was done.

"Lunes Otra Vez" (4/5) The lyrics are as simple as it gets, the stress of work during the week, and the arrival of the weekend break, which you have to take advantage of while it lasts ("Lunes es el día triste y gris de soledad").

"Aprendizaje" (4/5) is a poem made into a song that talks about the important, the necessary, the just education. It speaks of an education that teaches how to be formal and polite, putting into practice the rules of protocol, the norm, the "moral". Of the teachers that the song talks about, it rescues the acquired knowledge, the science, the duty, but it also talks about that nobody who dared to tell the truth. Out of fear, and that fear is foolish.

"Mr. Jones o Pequeña Semblanza de una Familia Tipo Americana" (3.5/5) is a short song that tells, at first glance, of a murderous family that one day the police arrive and arrest them. They excuse themselves by saying that they are "a very normal family".

"Tribulaciones, Lamento y Ocaso de un Tonto Rey Imaginario o No" (5/5). This song, along with the one that opens the album, are 2 of the most heartbreaking and powerful songs in the history of national rock. And at the same time, it was also a song that gave a lot to talk about. "Desde el palacio se veía el mar", at that time the palace was perhaps a multi-room flat on an avenue. Today perhaps it is neither the luxury floor of the building, nor the house in the suburbs... perhaps it is the earphone we put on to listen to music so as not to feel anyone else; or perhaps it is the gossip programme so as not to listen to the political one; or it is the dancing and skating programme so as not to watch the research one; or it is something soft to avoid the harshness of reality.

10/10, 5 stars. Very close to perfection, it is a jewel that seems to have fallen from the sky and given to García's marvellous absolute ear, to make us thrill with his excellent works.