NEXUS EN CONCIERTO / HOMENAJE A CRUCIS

The Argentinian group Nexus has been making great releases since their first album in 1999. The group's sound is based on Lalo Huber's fast and furious keyboards and Carlos Lucena's precise guitar interventions, all over a very well-conducted rhythm section. "Crucis - Homenaje" was recorded live in the studio in 2020 and broadcast on YouTube, and has only just been officially released on CD. The songs by the classic 70's Argentinian band are in perfect harmony, permeated by Nexus' own compositions with a fascinating result. Unfortunately, the CD was released with only 11 tracks, since in my opinion they could have re-recorded the two Crucis albums in their entirety and released a double live CD. A beautiful and inspiring tribute.

TOP NOTCH PROG FROM ARGENTINA : FUTURE LEGEND NEXUS PLAYS LEGENDARY CRUSIS!

During concerts Nexus already played songs from Argentinian prog legend Crusis, but in 2020 the band decided to pay tribute to Crusis in a more extensive way and named the concert En Concierto : Homenaje A Crusis. About Crusis, this band recorded two studio-albums, an eponymous one in 1976 and the highly acclaimed Los Delirios Del Mariscal in 1977.

This 'live in the studio' album features six Nexus songs (the 'uneven' numbers) and five tracks (the 'even' numbers) from these two Crusis studio-albums.

New member Roxana Truccolo is clearly a huge asset to the band, both on bass as with the vocals, in the native language. She does a good job with her voice in the Crusis songs (guitar player Carlos Lucena also sings in some songs, or in vocal harmony with Roxanna), I am also very impressed by the Crusis renditions from Nexus, how inspired and skilled.

Dynamic, tasteful keyboard work, and beautiful native vocals in La Triste Vision Del Entierro Propio (4:46).

Propulsive and bombastic with swirling Hammond, rock guitar with wah-wah, strong interplay and powerful drum beats in the excellent Ironico Ser (4:09).

A Hammond-guitar duet and awesome interplay in Todo Tiempo Posible (4:26).

An exciting wah-wah sound with soaring Hammond, a sensational pitchbend driven Minimoog sounding solo and a moving guitar solo in Abismo Terrenal (6:28).

And finally a dreamy strings sound, then a beautiful blend of an intense guitar solo and soaring Hammond (evoking early Focus) in the compelling track Los Delirios Del Mariscal (7:03). Wow!

And then the Nexus songs, to me this band sounds as one of the best Latin-American prog formations, it is a tight and experienced unit (since 1999!) and Lalo Huber sounds as the Argentinian answer to Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman. I love his awesome vintage keyboard sound, with his digital Hammond organ, and his Korg synthesizers that sound often mighty close to the legendary Minimoog.

El Ultimo Dia (5:28) : This track alternates between slow rhythms, mid-tempo beats and sumptuous outbursts, embellished with fiery and moving guitar, flashy synthesizers and Mellotron choirs, the rhythm-section is impressive.

La Espiral (2:56) : To me this composition sounds as 'early ELP with guitar', in a tight mid-tempo.

Condenados (8:51) : What a tension between the mellow and bombastic parts, topped with wonderful vocals.

La Tentacion Del Mundo (6:44) : From a slow rhythm to bombastic eruptions, with fat synthesizer flights, volume pedal guitar, dreamy piano and vocals.

Mas alla Del Limite (4:32) : I am blown away by the awesome Hammond sound and fiery guitar leads, in a slow rhythm, how compelling!

And finally the ultra-bombastic instrumental Metanoia (7:52), my absolute highlight on this live session: sparkling Emersonian Hammond work, intense howling guitar (like early IQ), spectacular breaks, a heavy guitar solo and a fat Minimoog sound, topped with excellent interplay, how exciting!

If you listen to this live session you get the best of two different Argentinian eras, from Crusis and Nexus, you cannot beg for more, wow!