BLOQUE

"El Hijo del Alba" was after "Hombre, Tierra y Alma" their second conceptual work but unfortunately I've to say that this one was not as cohesive and excellent as its predecessor. Especially its first half works rather as a nice collection of songs without offering any excitement to the listener.

The all instrumental 'Poemas de soledad' opens the album in a spacey Floydian atmosphere with synths followed by dreamy acoustic guitar. 'Alquimista soy', first track with vocals basically continues this rather mellow vein but adds up some rhythmic electric guitar. 'La danza del agua', another instrumental track exhibits really great symphonic rock with impressive playing on keyboards and electric guitar. The title track is in fact a quite nice ballade but anything spectacular neither. 'Quimérica laxitud' in contrast is a very energetic hard rocking one with good dual guitar playing. Second half of the disc consists of the multi-parted epic 'El silencio de las esferas' which is in fact the better half and presents more than 16 minutes of melodic and energetic symphonic rock with many rhythm changes and great playing on guitars, bass, keyboards and drums.

As a summary I'd like to say that this album is certainly a quite good example of Spanish symphonic rock but I'd hesitate to call it an essential one in general. I'd add another half star to my rating though if possible.

Due to the political situation in the 70's the best Spanish progressive rock albums haven't been released before second half of the decade when the heyday of Prog was already long gone in other countries. Unlike other great Spanish bands like CRACK or TRIANA being mainly influenced by jazz or flamenco Bloque was using rather an approach closer to Italian symphonic rock bands from that period. Their second release "Hombre, Tierra y Alma" was certainly their most coherent and best work being absolutely on par with albums by better known bands in that genre.

"Humanidad indefensa" opens the album in a quite apocalyptic atmosphere with the sound of splintering glass followed by some children's crying and bombastic keyboards. The song continues in the best tradition of 70's Italian symphonic rock with staggering vocals accompanied by psychedelic electric guitar and tasteful keyboards. "Ya no hay nada en la calle" is kept in a more gentle and ballad-esque vein with acoustic guitar and mellow keys. "El llanto del poeta" has nicely sounding poetic lyrics sung by a children's choir combined with a great electric guitar solo. Next three short tracks represent in fact a mini-suite which starts rocking off in a quite heavy vein especially in its last part "El infierno esta aqui?" before Mellotron-choirs are segueing subtly into "Meditacion parte I" consisting of solemn and mystic synths sounds. This one actually forms together with "Descubrir el sentido terrible de la vidale" and "Meditacion parte II" another mini-suite. The same goes for the last three tracks presenting excellent dual guitar and keyboards combined with some partly spoken poetic and haunting lyrics.

As a conclusion I just can recommend this concept album highly to any lover of Italian symphonic Prog. If you want to check out this band go for this one first!

Spanish band Bloque's first album was quite a solid record in terms of guitar-dominated melodic rock but not to be compared with their second one for example exhibiting much more resemblance with 70's Italian progressive rock acts like PFM. First track "Undecimo poder " could be described more or less as plain energetic guitar-dominated hard rock though having as well some nice Hammond organ sound. "Albelardo y Eloisa" is mostly kept in a mellow and romantic vein with atmospheric keys and a blues-tinged guitar before it starts rocking off towards its end. One could think of some earlier, more blues-inspired Floyd work as a reference point. "Salvacion por la musica" is a rather short instrumental piece mainly dominated by keyboard playing reminiscent of some of Emerson's solo works. "Joven levantate" is actually the first really interesting track in terms of Prog on here and a really well-done pleasant song with excellent interplay of guitar, bass, keys and drums. Vocals which are obviously presented by several singers and in Spanish language throughout the album are by the way very much appealing. "Consultando el tarot", the longest track and an all instrumental is after the previous one another highlight of this overall rather weak album. It's offering great keyboards with lots of rhythm changes and nice sound effects. After three very short rather unspectacular tracks, two of them being instrumental we get to hear "La noche del alquimista" offering some excellent electric guitar and bass play slightly reminiscent of country fellow band TRIANA. Last one "Conociendo a Abraxas" is the most chaotic and weird sounding one with some strange synth effects,mouth organ, awesome guitar/bass play and some furious vocals. This one is certainly another highlight and saving this album from being considered as one "for completionists" only.

Overall this debut is for sure not an essential addition for any Prog collection but still a fairly good one and might be interesting for those fellows oweing already their later releases.

I purchased this album in the early Nineties when I reacted on an add in the former Spanish progrock magazine "Sirius". Spanish proghead Angel Romero (now living in the USA) offered his entire LP collection because of his 'dust-allergy'. How sad for him, how lucky for me! This album is a good example of the unique and delicate Spanish progrock.

The first two tracks "Pesadilla de vivir" and "El poder de la libertad" are tasteful mid-tempo rock songs with strong vocals and nice work on guitar. The third "Anoranza" is very compellingl featuring a kind of bluesy symphonic rock with warm Spanish vocals and wonderful choir-Mellotron waves. The final song on side 1 entitled "Camino del universo" sounds pleasant and catchy delivering delicate and varied work on keyboards and fine rhythm guitar.

Side two starts with the catchy track "Tau ceti" featuring a tight and propulsive rhythm-section, lots of powerful and fiery electric guitar runs and some beautiful choir-Mellotron, what a captivating combination! Then "Detinido de la materia", an alternating piece with strong electric guitar work along powerful Spanish vocals, fiery saxophone and wonderful keyboard sounds. "Solo sentimiento" is a dreamy song delivering impressive choir-Mellotron, mellow organ waves, warm vocals and sensitive electric guitar play, very beautiful. The final track "Magico y salvaje" has a slow rhythm with a cathcy beat and fiery and heavy electric guitar runs, another original musical idea from this unique Spanish progrock band.

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