VÔOS E SONHOS

Originally named Aura, Via Lumini adapted their name towards the end of the 80's, featuring Marcelo Dias on bass, Mauro Cannalonga on keyboards, Edilson Rodrigues on guitars/vocals, Cezar Pacca on guitars and Fernando Loia on drums.They came from Sao Paulo and were actually one of the first bands to sign with the newly established Brazilian label Progressive Rock Worldwide, a major contributor of the Brazilian Progressive Rock's scene revival.Their debut LP ''Voos e Sonhos'' came out in 1991.

Typical South-American Progressive/Symphonic Rock is the style met througout the release, characterized be sensitive guitar lines both acoustic and electric with the familiar Brazilian flavor on vocals.There is also some heavy use of keyboards to be heard, synthesizers, piano and organ more particularly, played by Cannalonga often in a very retro style but with an evident modern edge as well.The track developments are good, though far from outstanding.Alternating sections between guitar-led musicianship and strong keyboard fanfares and romantic piano interludes make the sound rich and far from boring.The bass work is really front on the mix, but it shines through to say the least.However the vocals are quite mediocre, while the muddy production does not help either, still the effort of the band is pretty decent on creating some non-commercial prog experience with refrences to the music of NUOVA ERA and TREM DO FUTURO or past Latin-American beasts like ESPIRITU, PABLO EL ENTERRADOR and SOM NOSSO DE CADA DIA.

Decent prog album, created at the beginnings of the huge Brazilian prog revival.Far from the sometimes Neo Prog cliches coming in view at this point, Via Lumini enter the scene with an album full of delicate Symph Prog arrangements with lots of positive elements outreaching the negative ones.Recommended if you find a copy.