DESINTEGRACIÓN

I am not going to, because I do not want, speculate on the musical genres and trends of this beyond amazing sound device issued by a new band of Algeciras, Cádiz, named Atavism, a name which itself already refers to the heritage of previous projects, Viaje a 800 or the recently dissolved Mind! And I do not want to speak about dogmatic treatises about experimental work, exercises of hard psych from the seventies inheritance or if this is a recurrence of some experienced musicians in a clear effort to go further and evolve. All that would be to get lost in a jungle of burdensome terms that do not describe, they could never do, a music that emanates from the heart, from an atavistic feeling that feeds the spirit of a musician, and the honesty which a group gives the listener with an infinite, timeless music, as I foresee from this moment, in an essential and fruitful career. Marvelous sounds infused with early seventies floydian grooves and devoted to extensive developments that, finally, transmit musical essences conceived and thought to the limit. The music of Desintegración is the approach of this smart trio formed by a extremely inspired Poti for both, voices and his eternal guitar, sculpting timeless melodies filled with an special sensitivity, that does not need to expose genuine virtuosity, and fierce melancholy anthems at a time, with exciting performances of unspeakable beauty; Sandri Pow, a real percussive heart, which is the powerful, sweet and vital soul of a group guided by intricate and dreamy instrumental passages, resulting an exercise of powerful sonic spaces and generating feelings hard to forget; and Matthew, a resolving and conscientious bass guitar than shows the rhythmic aspects of Atavism with professionalism and smooth feeling, unhurried, methodical, consistent, disciplined. The consequence of all of this is a complex, sensitive, full of winks, seductive, ultimately, honest and credible smooth music. No improbable contrivances, but for small details that embellish each of the four tracks of Desintegración, added, certainly in the background, in order to help, from post-production, to add personality to a seasoned group that plays with the advantage of knowing each other and, most important, knowing everything around it. Atavism knows how to press, as none have done so far, thanks to its music and its lyrics, the mechanisms for a smart avid listener that search for satisfying sound experiences; a listener that hates perishables items presented to particular benefit. Here's soul, there is 'duende' (it is forbidden to confuse all those Spanish topics; I'm not talking about that). I'm talking about magic, strength, sense of feeling, communication, satisfaction... I am referring, definitely, to Music, with capital letters, to contemporary Art made to joy and delight anyone who wants to be seduced by a sincere exercise of a quality out of the ordinary. From the depths of the mind into the pores of the skin, Desintegración meets several requirements that make it a classic of the future: feeling (I never get tired of saying that), honesty, taste and love; love for the listener who is the ultimately impassive adressee of the universal and timeless work of the greatest promise, turned into reality, of Spanish progressive rock: Atavism. I did not hesitate for a second

The Spanish band ATAVISMO emerged from the ashes of the stoner rock / heavy psych band Viaje a 800 and formed around 2013 in one of Spain's southernmost cities at Algeciras which is situated across from the UK occupied territory of Gibraltar and just across the Strait of Gibraltar from Tangier, Morocco. This Andalusian trio has made some waves in the prog community in recent years by developing a classic psychedelic space rock sound that find them in competition with that transition zone of Pink Floyd, you know those awkward years after Syd Barrett went crazy and before "Dark Side Of The Moon." In fact the band's name ATAVISMO is simply the Spanish word for the English word "atavism" which literally means "throwback."

The band consists of Jose Moreno aka Poti who handles guitar, mellotron, farfisa, theremin as well as lead vocals. Mateo performs bass and contributes backing vocals whereas Sanda Pow is the drummer but also contributes mellotron, farfisa and backing vocals. This debut release DESINTEGRACIÓN is mellotron paradise and therefore a fourth guest musician in the form of Curro Snortil was needed for yet more mellotrons! The result is a stoned out romp through sometime like in 1971 or so only upgraded with a modern production that allows each instrumental to stake out its proper sound turf and remain audibly enabled for the entirety of this 37 minute run. While some have stated that the album should be longer, i find the classic run length of albums of this type are more than enough.

DESINTEGRACIÓN consists of only four tracks with the opener and closer running over ten minutes long and the creamy filling of the album ranging from around seven to eight. The album gets off to a nice start with the sounds of what sounds like a swarm of galactic hornets slowly closing in as the audio becomes subtly louder and eventually ushers in the standard instruments of guitar, bass and drums. This is one of those jam band type albums that engages in psychedelic noodling to some degree but yet the compositions are developed enough and progressively charged to keep them out of the neurally dead section of the record store. Ironically there is more info on this band on metal websites than actual prog ones however there is nothing really remotely metal about this save the occasional power chord that reverberates into infinity.

This is slow burning chill music that develops a repetitive bass groove, gentle percussive accompaniment with the guitar adding Floydian guitar licks along with a cloudy atmospheric overcast that swishes and swirls around, sometimes reminding me of classic Gong and at other times a bit more like the early years of Hawkwind. However despite these nods to the past greats, ATAVISMO does refrain from overtly copying their referential sources and instead creates a rather distinct romp through the lysergic woods after a magic mushroom has slowly dissolved reality and only smoking caterpillars are left to declare sovereignty over the interdimensional gap between two different worlds.

Having been involved with the PSIKE team on ProgArchives now for a few years, i've heard more than my share of psychedelic rock bands that implement this same style of improv over a structured grooviness and when all is said and done, ATAVISMO delivers a nice addition to that slice of the psych prog universe but honestly on this debut really doesn't accomplish much else. With the possible connection to style with modern day bands such as Earthless or even Porcupine Tree, ATAVISMO really just engages in lengthy jam sessions that evoke some of the earliest flirtations of Krautrock. While the album is pleasant there isn't really much in the way of songwriting going on here. A nice debut but the band definitely stepped things up on the 2017 followup "Inerte." This one is OK but doesn't really blow me away.

4.5 stars. ATAVISMO are a Psychedelic band out of Spain, a trio in fact of guitar/vocals, bass and drums but the guitarist and drummer both add farfisa and mellotron. They even have a guest playing mellotron on the closer. Yes I love this band! This is the debut from 2014 and they have also released a second recording in 2017 called "Inerte" that I consider one of the best albums to ever come out of Spain. The debut here is more raw, in fact the two longest tracks, the opener and closer brought "A Saucerful Of Secrets" to mind for that dark, spacey sound.

Listen to the sounds howl to start the opener "Blazaya"! I'm guessing mellotron and theremin. A bass line before 1 1/2 minutes as the spacey sounds subside. Cymbals and guitar join in. Drums 3 minutes in as the guitar starts to solo more steadily. Distorted guitar later but the tone 7 minutes in sounds really good. The guitar solo starting before 11 minutes brings BLACK SABBATH to mind. "Kraken" is spacey to start as guitar joins in quickly. More to follow then vocals before a minute. Harmonies after 1 1/2 minutes helps create an uplifting mood. More of a rock mode before 4 minutes as we get a change. Love the guitar here. A FLOYD vibe very late.

"Oceanica" is very relaxed and spacey with laid back picked guitar. Drifting vocals join in but not for long as it turns instrumental. Vocals are back after 4 minutes then it kicks into a more powerful sound a minute later. Vocals are more passionate here. So good! They step aside before 6 minutes as we get a relaxed guitar solo but he will start to rip it up some. Distortion 7 minutes in then it settles back again. "Meeh" has these deep sinister sounding bass lines to start as drums join in then guitar. Vocals after 1 1/2 minutes as the guitar stops. This is mid paced and dark. Vocals will come and go and the guitar sounds pretty amazing. It slows down heavily before 10 minutes to end it.

They've only released two studio albums but this might be my favourite band from Spain. Can't get enough of this stuff. Did I mention the word mellotron? Bumping this up to 5 stars as I find no bad sections even but tons of stuff that I crave in music.