
Hailing from Quilmes, Lenin is one of the most exciting young bands that have been stirring
things up in Argentina's current underground rock scene: Lenin plays a robust sort of
psychedelic prog rock whose stamina is cleverly matched with an eclectic approach that
embraces space-rock, math-rock, stoner and post-rock elements into a coherent sonic
framework. The repertoire comprised in the band's debut release "Río Hecho Cacería" is
just fabulous: a curious fact is that each one of the 5 tracks in the album is entitled after the
exact moment in which it starts within the CD's integral duration. A peculiar idea, indeed,
that makes the first track be named '0.00'. In fact, this opener is really a tour through
various places and landscapes wrapped in varying atmospheres. It gets started with a
cosmic prelude that anticipates the powerful display of agile psychedelia instilled in the first
main motif: the driving bass lines state the nucleus for it. Things stop almost abruptly in
order to give room to a gentle acoustic guitar passage, which is succeeded by some bass
guitar pounding moves at first and a new psychedelic jam later. This one is a bit less ballsy
yet a tad more sophisticated than the first jam. The next thing is a percussive section
(augmented with edition tricks) that culminates in a drum solo, and so the stage is set for
the emergence and development of the final jam, an electrifying display of rocking fire
ultimately augmented with spacey sound effects. After this ambitious entrance, the "Río
Hecho Cacería" goes on with '11.26' and its explosive moods, somewhat coincidental with
the proposals from compatriot acts Defórmica and Falsos Conejos. The final sections turn
to more lyrical realms, including quotations of one of Piazzola's most famous
compositions ? 'Libertango'. '18.48' finds the band fully prepared to explore its extroverted
side toward its very limits, establishing new frontiers of progressive excitement that
encapsulates elements of Crimsonian patterns, math-rock and stoner. At this point, Lenin
establishes a specific climax for the album as a whole, exorcising images of explosions in
the Universe and conjuring visions of surreal bonfires. In short, '18.48' is a definitive
highlight of the album. The transition toward subtle moods in the finale makes a convenient
variation of the permanent energy, still present in the guitar's various layers. '26.60' bears a
very similar power, not matching the previous track's incendiary nature totally, but still
preserving the album's dynamics with both creativity and stamina. The presence of synth
ornaments in the final passages states an effective spacey closure to the overall idea. The
album's closer, '33.09', is the other long track in the album: unlike '0.00', this one states a
clearly defined sense of consistence in its compositional framework throughout its
sections. The alternation of louder and softer passages is handled with calculated
flashiness and clean fluidity. The mysterious spacey section that begins around the 4 ½
minute mark allows the band to explore jazzy cadences in the rhythm section. A few
seconds before the 8 ¾ minute mark, the reprise of the massive opening motif is being
prepared, and so the concluding climax generates flaming vibrations and powerful
intensity. Despite its youth, Lenin gives abundant proof of its maturity as a psychedelic prog
act: once again, a band from South America provides good reason to keep on believing in
progressive rock in the new millennium.