ESPECTRO

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I first heard about this new album from a thread on another site and I must admit I was taken back a bit as I didn't know they were even working on a new release. Well would you believe on my way home from work that same day I stopped and got the mail and this was sitting in the mail box ! Strange but true. I can only imagine that the guitarist Fabio sent me this but he didn't let me know ahead of time or since. He has sent me music before including THE INVISIBLE OPERA COMPANY OF TIBET which is absolutely killer stuff. Actually I let my Bro In Law borrow that cd and he couldn't believe how good it was. He has a lot of musicians come to his house and jam and the one guitarist wanted to buy it from him right on the spot. Back to VIOLETA DI OUTONO and I have to say that their "Volume 7" record is one of the most meaningful albums I own. It just hits me emotionally for some reason so I was really hoping this would do the same. Thankfully it does at times but not as often.

"Formas-Pensamento" has a sort of dreamy intro with vocals. Organ joins in then drums and bass a minute in. Nice instrumental section after 3 1/2 minutes especially the guitar. So good ! Check out the bass and organ too. The guitar sounds amazing after 6 minutes as well. Vocals are back before 7 minutes. "Montanhas Da Mente" is a top three for me. A crisp beat with guitar and reserved vocals sounds incredible. Organ joins in and my God this is good. The water is rising 2 minutes in. Nice bass and synth work too. A melodic guitar solo after 4 minutes. "Dia Azul" is laid back with vocals. A tasteful guitar solo is trumped by a more passionate one before 4 1/2 minutes as the drums pound. "Ondas Leves" has this drifting yet rich sound with prominant drums and bass as the guitar plays over top. Vocals arrive 3 minutes in as the organ floats. A change before 5 minutes as it kicks in with power. No vocals here.

"Claro Escuro" is a top three. It's uptempo with synths and heaviness as the vocals join in. "Algum Lugar" is my final top three. It sounds like "Stars Die" by PORCUPINE TREE on the verses but not on the chorus. Just love how this sounds though. Cool sounding guitar before 3 1/2 minutes too. "Anos-Luz (Manito's Dream)" is psychedelic with vocals as sounds echo. It picks up and the guitar, organ, bass and drums all sound great 3 minutes in after the vocals have stopped. "Espectro" opens with cymbals, then drums and atmosphere take over in this brief instrumental. "Solsticio" is another excellent vocal track. I like the piano during the instrumental interlude. Psychedelic vocals after 4 minutes. The bonus track is "News From Heaven" which is the first song done with English vocals.

A solid 4 stars for sure. This just hasn't hit me like "Volume 7" but that might change over time. Highly recommended regardless.

VIOLETA DE OUTONO has been really hard to categorize since the begining. They started their career in the mid 80's, where New Wave was in every tiny bit of Rock in Brazil, and yet, they were deeply rooted in Psychedelic Rock and Space Rock with colours of PINK FLOYD from SYD BARRET period. All of this sprinkled with New Wave, but just a tiny bit.

Their first record, Violeta de Outono (1987)is a classic! But the band had to let it go in the 90's, things weren't working for their kind of music anymore. They never really broke up and Fabio Golfetti always kept the dream alive. Only in 2005 they really returned with a new album Ilhas, since then their music comes slowly, but never stops.

I bought Volume 7 (2007) right after the release and I have to say, I simply love that album, it's one of the finest pieces of Space Rock in the Canterbusy Scene tradition and the new member (at that time) Fernando Cardoso added so much to the band with his keyboards, synths and specially, Hammond organ.

I've seen the band live many times since 2007 and I was really waiting for the new album. Following their steps closely. In 2010 Fabio gathered his mates, and under the INVISIBLE OPERA COMPANY OF TIBET name released a perfect record, UFO Planante (2010). That made me wait a bit more calm. But he promised a new VIOLETA DE OUTONO album to 2012 and it came.

The album was suposed to be released in March, but Fabio is now playing with GONG, that made the album delayed a bit and it was released in late May. But the waiting game worth every second.

Espectro (2012) is the best album released by VIOLETA DE OUTONO so far. They took the Volume 7 (2007) sound and developed even more. Fabio vocals are fragile, but that made them so special and unique. Plus the Hammond organs by Fernando Cardoso are more present than never.

The band has a new drummer, José Luiz Dinóla, and his style fitted perfectly to tha band and as usual Gabriel Costa bass playing is perfect, gives the right amount of low the band needs and his Fender sound is warm and clever.

One more thing has to be said. Espectro (2012) was recorded in the MOSH Studios in São Paulo in analog tapes, NO computers, at all. This makes their sound even more unique and you can say as soon that the first track 'Formas-Pensamento' starts.

You're into Canterbusy Scene, melodical Prog with the exactly amount of Space Rock, and Hammond organs? This is exactly for you. My top 3 of 2012.