HUASCARAN
Fermata
•Jazz Rock/Fusion
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Studio Album, released in 1977 Songs / Tracks Listing 1. Huascaran I (13:41) - Frantisek Griglák / guitar, piano, synths (Roland, Arp, Elka Strings)
Artwork: Juraj Bartos and Tibor Borský and to Quinino for the last updates Edit this entry |
Buy FERMATA Huascaran Music
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![]() | St Imports 2014 | $46.69 |
![]() | Dunajska Legenda Imports 2014 | $34.65 |
![]() | Piesen Z Hol Imports 2014 | $33.01 $37.34 (used) |
![]() | Huascaran Imports 2014 | $42.96 $34.90 (used) |
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![]() | Fermáta - Ad Libitum - Opus - 9113 1580 Opus | $33.99 (used) |

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Fermata - Huascaran Vinyl LP Rare Czech Jazz Prog 1979 Opus |
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FERMATA Huascaran ratings distribution
(112 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(47%)
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(35%)
Good, but non-essential (11%)
Collectors/fans only (4%)
Poor. Only for completionists (4%)
FERMATA Huascaran reviews
Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings
Collaborators/Experts Reviews
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog Folk

The group undergoes a big line-up change as original bassist Jaro is replaced Lucenic, while the drum stool revolves for the last time in a while with Karol Olah sitting on a big wad of glue (Eeeehmmm!!!.. ;o))) to retain it. Griglak also plunges into keyboards on this album, but it doesn't tip the scale against his guitar, since it is one of his strongest works. Karol's brother Peter will belt out a few vocal lines and they added a cello guest musician (the violinist of their previous album was virtually unnoticeable). With their poorest artwork of their discography (but giving a good idea of their western equipment), Huascaran would've deserved a more evocative artwork because of the thematic subject, at the risk of being a bit graphic.
While the lead-off first part of the title track is rather slow evolver, the track picks up intensity by the tenth minute and a few dozens of second later, a short drum solo roll describe the earthquake and the 40-minutes landslide/avalanche that resulted in the high victim toll. The next track is a solemn homage to the 80,000 victims, and this track cannot leave me without chills down my back and send goose-bumps over the rest of my body. This music is simply awesome and somehow a fantastic gift from people suffering a different kind of hardship, caught behind an iron curtain. Griglak's guitar lines in this track are soaring above Pachacamac and the Inca roots of the country.
The flipside is a good musical evocation of the international help teams and solidarity amongst men in adversity, the shorter track of the album, but hardly lesser because of it. The second part of the title track brings us back to the dramatic end of the opening movement, but it seems that the idea was to improvise a bit on the ideas developed previously. The tracks is a slow decrease of intensity and ends on birdsongs and slow bass drum hearbeat. I must actually give Fermáta a big hand to have avoided the trap of sounding "ethnic" (as using Latino rhythms or using Andean folk), as I think that it was an easy way out and might have cheapened the progressive tour de force they pulled with this album.
The Cd reissue comes with three absolutely fantastic bonus tracks, which adds even more value per money. 15 is a hard driving funk/fusion track that resembles a bit the then-recent Weather Report releases with Latino rhythms. Valparaiso (named after the Chilean seaport) is more of a Mahavishnu Orchestra and is shines like a thousand sun and is hotter than lava flowing from its crater. The short Pertpetuum I would obviously be a leftover from their debut album, but strangely enough features some heavy brass arrangements, which hints it wouldn't be the case after all.
A splendid album and Fermáta's best album (even with the bonuses) and some of the most stunning symphonic/progressive jazz- rock ever. This could easily rate with the best of UK or US jazz-rock fusion and it's a shame that Fermáta was one more victim of the Cold War, because it deserved much more. Run for this one!!
PROG REVIEWER

"Huascaran I" is the longest of the four tracks at close to 14 minutes. It's spacey to begin with as keys come in but they are sparse. We get a beat as bass and drums come in before 2 minutes.The violin is so mournful 5 minutes in as it calms right down. A change 8 minutes in as vocal melodies and synths take over.Tasteful guitar 9 minutes in. Another change 10 1/2 minutes in as synths come in and build as the guitar lights it up. Some huge bass after 12 minutes that goes on and on to the end. "80,000" opens with liquid keys with no real melody. We start to get a beat 1 1/2 minutes in as the sound and tempo build to a fairly heavy sound. Nice bass. It calms down 4 minutes in with a great sound to follow. Aggressive guitar 6 minutes in as drums pound away. Love it !
"Solidarity" is such a good song. More of a band effort really with some excellent interplay. It's fun just listening to all the intricate sounds. The guitar starts to make some noise after 5 minutes. It then calms right down as piano only takes over to the end. "Huascaran II" hits the ground running, very unlike Part I. Deep bass lines and impressive drumming as synths wash in the background. Guitar before 2 minutes is pretty raw. It settles 5 minutes in with chunky bass light drums and keys. The tempo picks back up 7 minutes in with tasteful guitar. A calm before 9 1/2 minutes to end it. Reflection.
A must for fans of Jazz / Fusion.
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

Music there is well balanced, heavily arranged fusion, with strong symphonic influence. Whenever all album is conceptual and based on theme of Peruvian earthquake's (in 1970) tragedy, there are some dark, dangerous and sad moments in its sound. But in general it is still bright, no way depressing. Electric guitar solos are more technical, than aggressive. Plenty of electronic keyboards made the basis for all music, but the space is filled with guitar, bass, even some strings sounds.
All the music is more good musicians team work, than soloists and back-up supporters. Musicians are very competent, so you will hardly find technically weak point there. From other hand, not too much experimentation could be found as well. Almost excellent, but a bit too safe. For sure, it is more question of taste: for every lover of harmonies and symphonic excellence, this album is almost perfect. Whenever I am more on free-jazz side, I will be glad to hear less beautiful sound ( still no way cheese, happily), but more nervous sound with fresh elements. But generally it is nuance, and I'm speaking about really great album.
Every melodic jazz fusion fan must have this work, possibly some symphonic prog lovers will be happy with it as well.
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog Metal Team

The album is meant to tell a story and this clearly shows in the compositions, which move from scene to scene, almost like Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition". In structure at least, as the music lacks dramatic impact for me, there are section that rock out, but I'm not a fan of the mellow melodic style, nor of the sympho-funk style they use at times . The production could be better as well, the instruments don't always blend together well and it's too polished and synthetic for my taste. In other words, it's the typical Progrock sound of the second half of the 70s.
This is a good fusion album, and at the same time it's an adequate symphonic album. Fans of melodic fusion like RTF should apreciate this a lot. But looking at the Eastern European scene, I prefer SBB and Blue Effect.
PROG REVIEWER

Latest members reviews
Amazing album of this band. To me is a masterpiece of East Progressive Rock. One of the best 70 prog
albuns that I heard ever.
Great bass, great guitar, great music arrangements with a great music atmosfere that made progressive
rock a intelligent music and this albun is an example of that.
On
... (read more)
Report this review (#211724) | Posted by Joăo Paulo | Sunday, April 19, 2009 | Review Permanlink
4.5 stars really
This is very good fusion. No doubt about it. I am not sure how a totally instrumental album can be called
a concept album.... but oh well... It definitely doesn't make me think of Earthquakes at all.... This sort of
reminds me of Brand X but with a definite feel all its own.
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Report this review (#174137) | Posted by digdug | Monday, June 16, 2008 | Review Permanlink
The third album from this band, and usually their most praised, its concept revolves around the 1970 earthquake around Mt. Huascaran, Peru. The thing is that, in late 70's Czechoslovakia, rock albums had to have a concept to go with the recording. There was a commitee that would either approve or re
... (read more)
Report this review (#152227) | Posted by Magor | Thursday, November 22, 2007 | Review Permanlink
An outstanding rock band recorded their best album. Mathematical precission of Tomas
Berka and pure energy of Fero Griglak is combined together well. Theier talents in
composing end playing is indisputable. I like this synergy of these two men. Laco Lucenic
with Karol Olah did a excelent rhyt
... (read more)
Report this review (#39299) | Posted by | Wednesday, July 13, 2005 | Review Permanlink
Masterpiece! Outstanding fusion band, achieving their highest point here... Fantastic
playing from all the group's members, each one having its own space to shine. Highly
recommended. My cd has three bonus tracks which is great, because they're wonderful.
... (read more)
Report this review (#35476) | Posted by Melos | Tuesday, June 7, 2005 | Review Permanlink
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