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AUCAN

Prog Folk • Argentina


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Aucan biography
AUCÁN are a late 70's band from Argentina who blend symphonic rock with folk and classical influences. The original line-up was an all-family affair consisting of the four Perez brothers: Eugenio and Miguel both handling vocals and guitar, assisted by younger brothers Diego on drums and Pablo on bass, keyboards and vocals. They released two albums in 1977 and 1980 and then split up.

Both the eponymous first release and the better-known "Brotes Del Alba" are made up of smooth, well-structured melodies with frequent folk incursions, lots of acoustic instrumentation and elegant guitar passages. Perhaps on account of the more prominent keyboards, the second album is slightly more symphonic and features several guest musicians who bring the band's sound up a notch with their use of cello, mini-moog, oboe, English horn, harmonica and baroque flute among other instruments. Lyrics are sung in Spanish. Nothing groundbreaking here but well executed overall.

Fans of SAGRADO, CELESTE and perhaps CAMEL will feel at home with this band, especially with the second album.

: : : Lise (HIBOU), CANADA : : :

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3.50 | 12 ratings
Aucan
1977
2.68 | 21 ratings
Brotes Del Alba
1980

AUCAN Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

AUCAN Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

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AUCAN Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Aucan by AUCAN album cover Studio Album, 1977
3.50 | 12 ratings

BUY
Aucan
Aucan Prog Folk

Review by apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars Aucan's roots date back in 1970, when brothers Eugenio Perez qnd Miguel Perez formed a Psych/Folk duo in Argentina and even released a record in 1972.A few years later they were joined by their two younger brothers Diego (on drums) and Pablo (on bass, keyboards and voices) to form Aucan.The family quartet eventually recorded and released a self-titled debut LP in 1977 on the obscure Diorama label.

The Perez brothers proposed a pastoral Folk Rock in this effort, surrounded by occasional progressive vibes through the frequent use of electric guitars, piano and keyboards.The album is filled with very warm and sensitive vocal lines, sometimes with a choir-like approach by the brothers' collaboration, and the strong acoustic passages have a very calm and mellow atmosphere, not far from compatriots PASTORAL.These moments are very delicate and emotional, characterized by some archaic traditional flutes and acoustic strings, although with little instrumental depth.On the other hand there are also more upbeat passages, based on electric instrumentation and the careful use of keyboards, mainly piano and moog synthesizers.The vocals remain very emotional, the music however becomes more interesting with a slight symphonic flavor in the orchestrations.The guitars have a discreet HACKETT-ish color and the alternating presence of piano and synths, though not much in the forefront, add a nice diversity to the sound.

A quite good album within the Prog Folk genre's borders.Fans of the style will love this album, but ''Aucan'' has a strong chance to be appreciated also by lovers of more emotional music journeys.Quite rare, but recommended.

 Brotes Del Alba by AUCAN album cover Studio Album, 1980
2.68 | 21 ratings

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Brotes Del Alba
Aucan Prog Folk

Review by ClemofNazareth
Special Collaborator Prog Folk Researcher

2 stars There are things about the second and final Aucan album that are an improvement over their rather austere debut, but in some respects I think the band took a step backward as well.

The inclusion of a number of guest musicians means the music tends to be more robust and varied than their first release. “Primavera de una Esquina” includes an oboe and English horn, although they are not very prominent as near as I can tell. “Cancion de mi Padre” includes a bandneon (uh… accordion), which to me sounds a little bit like a viola with harmonica accompaniment. Not sure if that was the intent or not, but that’s what I hear. And “Hacia el Destierro” features the mondo-flute sikus, but the real interesting bit of this song is the wailing guitar that reminds me a lot of Kerry Livgren. All these are positive improvements, however slightly they end up affecting the overall sound.

But the biggest disappointment comes with the reduced role of the cello, an instrument that featured very prominently on the first album but is largely reduced to a supporting role here. Too bad, because that is one of the things that gave the band’s music a certain special appeal and helped to separate it from the many other British-influenced Latin acts of the late seventies. There is also a noticeable increase in synthesized keyboard usage on this album, and for a band that I thought was supposed to be emphasizing their folk leanings, this is a not very welcome addition.

There are no real standout tracks on this album, and although the closing “Misterio Azul” is the longest track and most ambitious in terms of its arrangement; this one is also the most obvious clue that the band recorded this album at the end of the seventies and when synthesized music and overly brash electric guitars were more en vogue than stylish and intricate folk-inspired music.

This is a collectors-only piece, although if you are interested in the band this one is easier to find than the debut and for that reason (and probably only that reason) you might feel like hunting it down. Not particularly recommended though.

peace

 Aucan by AUCAN album cover Studio Album, 1977
3.50 | 12 ratings

BUY
Aucan
Aucan Prog Folk

Review by ClemofNazareth
Special Collaborator Prog Folk Researcher

4 stars Well I had a chance to listen to this on cassette a few times and now I find it pretty high on my wish list. Unfortunately, though Aucan’s second and final album is readily available, this one seems to be rather difficult to find. There is apparently a Musea 2-in- 1 reissue of both Aucan albums, but the few places I’ve seen it listed are all out-of-stock. Not to fear though, I’m sure a copy will pop up soon.

And it is worth having if you are a prog folk fan, or just a fan of Latin American folk music in general. These guys are Argentinean, but they remind me a fair bit of the Chilean band Los Jaivas on their first two albums before that band developed a more mainstream and far more elaborated sound. They have also been compared to Camel, and I can understand why. These are largely folk-leaning compositions, and rather casual and subdued for the most part; but they are most certainly not the kind of strumming acoustic guitar and wistful vocals you might expect. There’s a little bite here and there just to keep things lively and interesting, and the piano, keyboard and guitar arrangements are complex enough at times to give the impression of British prog rock influences from bands like Camel and probably Wind & Wuthering-era Genesis as well.

But there are also strumming acoustic guitars and wistful vocals, and that’s okay - you should expect some of that in a prog folk album.

Aucan is the brainchild of four brothers of the Perez family, formed shortly before this album and disbanded following their second release. The instrumentation is rather conventional for a folk band, with the exception of brother Pablo’s exceptional and emotional cello; Miguel’s flute; and Eugenio’s occasional charango playing. The rest is pretty much piano, guitar, bass and drums. But those three additional instruments combined with the storytelling vocals make for a completely charming set of tracks that stick in your mind well after they stop playing.

The production is a bit uneven, with some electric guitar parts seeming to kind of wash out from time to time and some of the percussion getting buried behind drums and vocals, but mostly the mix is quite decent.

Most of the tracks are similar with nostalgia-dripped cello, plain but lively piano; and two or sometimes three part vocal harmonies. I don’t speak much Spanish but it wouldn’t matter since a fair amount of the lyrics seems to be sort of abstract poetry anyway. On a couple tracks the brothers decide to jack up the electric guitars and stash the cello for a more rocking effect, particularly “Canto al Sí” and the closing “Día Suburbano”. In other places they opt for a more percussive ethnic sound (“Anónimo que Va”, “Para Chocolate”); and on still others there is some keyboard and effects experimentation mixed with otherwise fairly straightforward, almost pop sounds (“Cueca de los Augurios”). Finally there are the few classical-leaning and largely acoustic tunes that are responsible for the Camel and Genesis comparisons. “Tristeza y Miel” is the most obvious, but the dedication song “Preludio de Alejandro” and “Poema Tuyo” fit this description as well.

This is a very decent prog folk album and an excellent example of modern South American folk music as well. The brothers would enlist an impressive lineup of guests for their second and final album, but this one has the advantage of being their first attempt and has a certain purist charm that makes me think it is the better of the two. Four stars without hesitation, and highly recommended.

peace

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