AGARTHA

Cantusio's numerous productions continue during the second half of the 80's, this time his third Alpha III creation was the album ''Agartha'', apparently inspired by the legend of the eponymous city resided in the earth's core.The vinyl was again released via the man's Faunus Records and propably it was the first time Amyr decided to record the album on his own forces.

Obviously this meant to be a mistake, because ''Agartha'' relies heavily on synths and the teamwork of the previous albums is to be missed, but gone with it is also the sound of natural instruments.Cantusio's new effort is exculsively based on his keyboards and the use of a drum machine, but the result is not only far from the decent sound of the past works, but tends to be extremely abstract, powered by an awful production and the disturbing sound of programmed beats.Stylewise there is also an evident switch towards Electronic Music with the E.L.P. influences being reduced and the focus here is on odd electronic experiments and loose soundscapes, which sound totally directionless.There is some sort of Eastern Asian/Indian influence covering the whole album, which is the only obvious source of inspiration and direction, because as a whole the material struggles to find a location between Electronic Music, synth experiments and keyboard-based Prog Rock.There are still these propelling cuts with the groovy lines and the interesting synth waves of Cantusio, usually delivered through double keyboard equipments, but now it's the unacceptable recording quality, which comes to ruin any decent execution.The few TANGERINE DREAM-like and serious Electronic pieces are quite enganging, the man had not lost his talent on keyboard majesty, but the overall result is below par.

Huge dissapointment.First comes the low production level, then comes the misleading musical ideas.Stick with Cantusio's early efforts and pass this one by, because ''Agartha'' is an extremely uneven album, which lacks inspiration and direction.

NOTE OF COMPOSER: It is very pejorative to criticize a work of art (here I address the music area). Especially when the critic is used to listening to only one type and style of music. If the guy loves opera, and especially Verdi or Mozart, he will find it difficult to appreciate works by Monteverdi or Alban Berg. In progressive rock there is an addiction to wanting to buy musical works with bands like Genesis, Yes and Pink Floyd. Everything that is different, or does not constitute a "band" in the literal sense, or solo works, are relegated to the background. Worse is the critic to know that a Pink Floyd recorded with tons of resources for a year a piece, with equipment and sophisticated production structures, wanting to buy the work of an "independent artist". And to finish each work corresponds to an individual inserted in a atypical context, at a time, conditions and proposals totally different!!.