MIXOLIDIO

Ergo Sum's second album shows a definitive improvement from their great debut album. The musician's skills, versatility and rocking energy are effectively displayed in their solid interplays. The repertoire is divided in two sections: a studio one and a live one - it is in this second section that the aforementioned virtues are accomplished to the highest level. The strength is there, rocking in your face, yet there is also an easily noticeable sensibility to create polished and well-articulated musical ideas. While it is clear that the lead guitar is usually the most featured instrument in the mix, the roles of the flute and the tuned percussives serve to add some peculiar colors to the overall 73- 75 era KC influenced prog sound that the guys of Ergo Sum recreate according to their own musical intuition. Other musical sources come from jazz fusion and hard rock, all of them fluidly combined with the main Crimsonian stuff upon a solid rhythm basis: the bassist and whoever plays the drum kit at a particular time (Menares and Muga continuously exchange drumming and percussive duties) are capable of providing a very strong column for the rockiest passages and a more fluid cadence for the softer, jazzier moments. In some aspects, Ergo Sum reminds me of the Argentinean quartet Tánger (another current South American instrumental act worth checking out). Let's take a look at the album's repertoire: tracks 1, 2 & 4 are effective rockers, while the beautiful acoustic guitar-centered nocturne 'Amistad' brings an air of ethereal introspectiveness, and 'Tonada a la Soledad' displays an eerie melancholy combined with a touch of exquisite psychedelic rock. Tracks 6-12 conform the live set, which includes some tracks from the band's debut album. 'Power II' & 'Power III' set an energetic ambience in a catchy manner, until 'Clasicoide' brings a most intricate compositional structure (this is my fave track of the entire album). 'Power IV' brings back the upfront rock stuff with a R'n'B twist; later on, 'Rompecabeza' will set things tighter and stronger, in a quasi-metallic manner. Between the two, tracks 10 & 11 explore jazzier trends. Well, what else can I say: this is one of the best prog recordings to come out from Chile for the last 10 years. and we're talking about a very proficient country in the current prog scene (Tryo, Mar de Robles, Akinetón Retard, AngulArt, Sarax, Entrance. all of them, excellent bands): Ergo Sum's "Mixolidio" is a must for every lover of good contemporary prog rock.

With this CD Chilean progrock has delivered a fine album, very alternating and with lots of good muscial ideas: swinging with vibraphone and propulsive progmetal in "Nuevos tiempos", many shifting moods with sax, flute and wah-wah guitar in "Laberinto", beautiful twanging guitars and a sensitive electric guitar solo in "Amistad", orchestral keyboards and great interplay between a fiery electric guitar and a vibraphone in "Tonada a la soledad", Steve Vai-like guitar work in "Power IV" and propulsive metal guitar and swirling flute play in "Rompecabeza". The two final bonustracks (live recorded in a studio in April 2001) features the strong Jethro Tull influeces from Ergo Sum with fiery electric guitar and powerful flute but the use of the vibraphone adds a special flavor to their captivating sounds.

THIS DYNAMIC AND VARIED PROG IS RECOMMENDED TO JETHRO TULL FANS!

"Mixolidio", ERGO SUM's second album is quite varied (acoustic guitar, saxophone, vibraphone and flute) and divided into three parts. The first contains five songs from '99: swinging, dynamic and alternating (flute, heavy guitar, 2 vibraphone-players), a quite unique sound. The second parts includes 7 live tracks from '99: the emphasis is more on the heavy guitar play. The last section features two bonus tracks from 2001 with alternating and captivating progrock, again an interesting blend of folk and rock with flute, vibraphone and electric guitar. ERGO SUM's sound is not loaded with keyboards but nonetheless they sound very progressive.

The variation of instruments ERGO SUM is using works refreshing. Especially the vibraphone and flute are blending together very well. Of course the flute reminds one of Ian Anderson from JETHRO TULL or FOCUS. If you liked JETHRO TULL or FOCUS and you can also stand the more heavy guitar parts you should definitely check out this album!

3.5 stars really!