MAHTRAK

MAHTRAK were a four piece band out of Brazil who released "Panorama" their sole album in 2009. It's interesting that three of the band members here were practising for a new project that would eventually be called SOLARSHIFT. When guitarist Antonio Rodriguez joined them for some jams and took them in a new direction that had them all excited. So they put SOLARSHIFT on hold while they focussed on making music for this new band they would call MAHTRAK.

They clearly went into more of a Jazz mode with MAHTRAK. I recently read some comments by the keyboardist Paulo Viana who said his second instrument is the alto sax which he wanted to use on this album but was vetoed by the drummer who does not like sax. Cris the drummer is a Rock drummer and while I have no complaints with his performance here, in fact I quite like it, it would have been better to have a Jazz drummer on the stool, and sax.

I love that album cover, and it's too bad the picture on the site here wasn't more clear. Tornadoes and hot air balloons don't mix very well. My package opens to a three panel picture, kind of, with the middle one having the track listing and bunch of other information. The bass player Fabio Cesar is amazing by the way. He and the keyboardist really impress here. We get eleven tracks over 41 plus minutes.

The opener "Tempestade" was the first song they completed from those original rehearsals. In the liner notes they describe it as being in a 5/8 groove, perfect for soloing. A hammond organ and guitar duel later with electric piano leading early. "Breeza" is a 11/2 minute piece led by piano early before all come on board. "Nachos Y Tequila" explores latin rhythms and textures and played live they would extend it into a long jam. "Sinestesia" is the piano intro for "Mantra" a piece I like with the drumming and organ standing out.

The title track opens with organ and bass but is joined by drums and guitar quickly. This is relaxed and mid-paced. Organ and guitar lead the way. "Frankenstein Goes To Disneyland" is not so surprisingly experimental. A nice change actually. This dissonant vibe continues into the short next song that's a minute long. "Crystal Canyon" features the unique tone of an old fender telecaster guitar. There are several themes here. Another short piece follows at under 3 minutes that is quite mellow.

The closer is "Oraculo" and it might be my overall favourite. In the liner notes they mention the tribal drumming mid-way through and jungle affects. I find the synths emotional on this one, and they will come and go. This is a solid album but not the cream of the crop. Still, it was an enjoyable record to play each time I put it on.

Lately I've been trying to police me, because I found myself giving five stars for several albums followed. Obviously I'm doing first reviews of those works who I most enjoy... but now I was determined to rank and review an album with three stars or something.

I was listening to Brazilian jazz, Airto Moreira and Hermeto Pascoal and also the classic Hubert Laws and Herbie Mann. Then I found the album "Panorama" by MAHTRAK (which seems a wordplay in Portuguese to "matraca" which means someone who does not stop talking). I was ecstatic. It's an album so easy to enjoy but with complex and difficult songs. The progression of some tracks reminds me the guitar of LEB I SOL, although the influence of the band might be more RETURN TO FOREVER. Great keyboard, good rythm section. The band can even go more "hard" and play with "wah-wah" guitar and then return to more "light" sounds.

There goes my day I'd reviewing an album negatively.

Today is very common to find neo prog bands inspired by the prog rock giants but is still very hard to find bands paying tribute to the jazz rock monster like Return to forever or Soft Machine. To me this album came to fill these empty spaces. It is an album with nice vintage sounds, great compositions and the musicianship of the four of them is impressive. I hope their second offer can be as good as this first one. This is a band to follow. What I like most in this album is that it has almost 45 minutes only, there are also short pieces of music what gives the album the right balance. Most of the new records are normally full of music, 75 minutes long but you can barely listen to half of it. I can easily listen to this record, the themes are very melodic but the solos and the rythim section have some breathtaking moments. An impressive work!

The pursuit of the music character and the united part might be advanced as they declare with the necessity. The influence and the respect of various, good music characters are included in the music character of this Mahtrak formed in 2001.

Band and Jeff Beck of Canterbury. Or, Return To Forever, Brand X, and the Mahavishnu orchestra. And, the music that men said that it was influenced from the music character such as Alti E Mestieri create will have the ability of an exactly good absorbing ability, element, and a high performance.

It is said that the recording of their of this debut albums had already ended at the time of 2005 from 2004. And, each member's activity was and there was information that the band says that they had faced the state of dissolution busy toward be able, too. If music from which the band may be continued by this album is offered, I should add the correction to those facts. A good culture of the situation and the home country that created their music is splendidly exactly expressed. It is ..and progressive ..unite with a variety of Music characters.. album.. finished. They and in this debut album have finished ..the content that the element of Jazz-Rock with the respect always has acted well... It might be Jazz/Fusion/Prog Rock of having been exactly carried by Brazil new.

"Tempestade" twines Riff of a good guitar for the keyboard while making the rhythm of five basic. Development might be very progressive. Brand X and Alti E Mestieri might be reminiscent as the impression. However, their originality is included as for technology and the idea of the performance. The rhythm section splendidly twines round the flow of the unison of the keyboard and the guitar with the tension and it contributes.

The progress of the keyboard and Chord with the anacatesthesia of "Breeza" is impressive. The melody that looks like the waltz based on the rhythm of five reminiscent of the element of Arti E Mestieri is developed. And, the flow shifts to the following tune at once.

A steady rhythm twines round "Nachos Y Tequila" with the unison of the keyboard that there is a humour in the part of the percussion instrument and the guitar. The theme in close relation to the rhythm of eight twines round the complexity and has a progressive sound. The flow that develops from twining with the guitar processed by the effect with the complexity or more might be splendid. It has a good flow that the humour exists together to the technology while containing the flow of Funk a little.

"Sinestesia" starts from a beautiful piano melody. The sound of Mellotron is introduced and the tension is continued. Next, the tune shifts as it is.

"Mantra" has the element of good Jazz-Rock. The theme mainly composed of the organ and the guitar progresses with the tension. It has the impression with a good progressive organ in close relation to complex development. Progressing this tune might be reminiscent of Arti E Mestieri and Brand X, too.

"Panorama" progresses with the rhythm of six. The feature in the tune is to make the rhythm and Chord. The part of the guitar and the organ also contributes to the tune. It might be a tune of which the element of various music went out strongly exactly. The sound is variegated.

"Frankenstein Goes To Disneyland" advances with heavy atmosphere from a chaotic sound. As for the tune, the sound of an intense keyboard twines round the parts of a few Funk. Ensemble of the band has succeeded. The tune might have originality and the technology.

"Il Tamburo Spaziale" progresses from the flow that explodes intensely complexly attended with an electronic sound. And, it shifts to the following tune at once.

As for "Crystal Canyon", a good flow and the melody of the band twine round the progress of refined Chord. The tune will give a good impression for the listener with a beautiful extension. The methodology that looks like Arti E Mestieri is taken and an advanced flow contains originality and the technology.

"Venus" progresses quietly in the line of the guitar and Bass with the anacatesthesia. The progress of Chord that flows gently gives the tune the relief.

"Oraculo" might be a tune of which the part where Jazz-Rock and Prog Rock that they cultivated were good went out. Progressive sound of keyboard and progress of Chord. And, the obbligati of the guitar and the keyboard in close relation to a sentimental melody. The flow has the element that doesn't end in simple Jazz-Rock. And, the drum pulls the tune and it reaches the peak. The melody will call impression.

It might be a band that should call progressive Jazz-Rock/Prog Rock exactly carried by Brazil. The quality of music has succeeded as an album that works in the part always continued at a high position.