Alux Nahual - symphonic/folk from Guatemala

Two years ago Progbear wrote this on the "Read First - Bands to Add" Topic:

Alux Nahual (Guatemala, folk/symphonic)

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MIKE (a.k.a. "Progbear")

 "That's my purse! I don't know you!" --Bobby Hill

N.P.:nothing

Alux Nahual hasn't been added. I wanted to help but I knew little to nothing about the only prog rock band from my country.

Finally, last week I got a box set with their first 6 studio albums and I said to myself: "I have to get them in PA, so more people can get to know them".

So today I wrote I bio. Here it is:

Alux Nahual

 

The Prog Rock band from Guatemala… and probably the most important and succesful rock band from Central America.

 

Alux Nahual were a very luck and odd band. They enjoyed commercial success without compromising the artistic value of their music. Their appeal was based on making music that no one from Central America was doing at the time, rock sung in Spanish, and singing about very native themes. Anyone from the region could identify themselves with the subjects of their music, such as civil war, mayan philosophy, history, social issues, etc.

 

Consisting of up to eight members during the top of their game, they released 8 studio albums and a live album during their career (1979 – 1999). They released 4 gems of symphonic-folk prog: “Alux Nahual” (1981), “Conquista” (1982), “Hermanos de Sentimiento” (1984) and “Centroamerica” (1986). The first two are more folky and organic. One could compare the sound of th albums to Kansas and Jethro Tull. “Hermanos” and “Centroamerica” introduce synthesizers to their sound still sounding very good. These two albums are harder to compare, but maybe to 80’s Latin American rock with Camel and Led Zeppelin. Their sound is also hard-rocking at times.

 

In 1987, with the change of their drummer and the exit of their violinist they changed their sound, being more rock oriented. Even so, they released an extremely important album in centralamerican rock history, which is Alto al Fuego (1987). They performed the song “alto al fuego” (Cease the fire) during the conference of the presidents from Central America, demanding the stop of the civil war. Their other three albums are very good rock albums with tinges of prog.  

 

They disbanded in 1999 to work on solo projects, but reformed in 2006 for a tour to raise funds for the people that lost their homes because of the hurricaine Stan.

 

I’m very proud of this band, since it’s the first band that I find from my country that plays prog. I’m also very sad because I wasn’t even born when they were on their heyday, but what I’ve heard from other people is that the concerts were always sold out and were a blast. They were quiet a sight on stage, because the violinist is also an entomologist and a cowboy (by the way, he was my biology teacher in college) and their violoncellist always played dressed in frac. They also played with two drummers onstage.

 

So, I recommend you highly Alux Nahual. The studio albums are very hard to find, but the compilations are more available. You should start with “Leyenda I”, or “Antología”, and then try to find their first four albums.

 

Raúl Soto.

It needs corrections because my english isn't perfect, but it's a beggining.

I want to know, what else do you guys need? Samples maybe?

Edited by RaúlGuate - September 16 2007 at 00:28

Maybe some of the mexican collabs out there know this band? (memo, or someone else)
Also, where's pepefloyd and hans when you need them?
Vamos hermanos!

Link to Sample:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=89429262
Listen to the first song "Hombres de Maíz", which is one of their masterpieces IMO.
The downside that this is the rerecorded version, which is a bit more "alternative" than the original.

Well, probably Alux Nahual may be the closest band from Gatemala to prog, and a very well known band actually, sure they have some prog moments but just a few, i have never considered them prog, neither a good friend of mine from Guatemala who knows them very well but i may be wrong, anyway i invite people listening to them, very nice band!!

the crossover team and assorted superluminaries took a listen....  it is really good music but just doesn't quite fit the scope of the website.  Thanks for bringing the group up to us.

mmmm....
May I inquire, what songs did you guys hear to evaluate them?

If its not illegal, could I provide mp3 of songs which I consider their proggiest? The songs available on the net, aren't the proggiest, just the most known.

I would provide or recommend if you could get them somehow these songs:
- Conquista
- Lejos de la ciudad (9 min. instrumental)
- Centroamérica

alright Raul ... because I like you hahahha and appreciate your perseverance...  will give Alux Nahual another chance.   Since we all resume our normal lives tomorrow.. might be a few days before we get back to you but we'll be looking hard at them.

RaúlGuate wrote: Thanks, you won't regret it!

we loved the samples Raúl. Did some further exploring and found these as well.

Excellent! Thanks a lot for not dismissing the band! I'm sure Alux will be more thankful than I am.
My first post for this thread was actually a bio that I wrote, I'll PM it to you. It needs some editing, because it may be a bit biased and it could have some grammar mistakes. Could you or someone of your team tell me what could be corrected? If it's some minor things I'm your you won't mind doing it by yourselves.
I'll post the link for the picture.

I'm excited, because I'm getting ready to review their albums!

Hans wrote: ALUX NAHUAL FINALLY IN THE ARCHIVES!! Thanks guys, you should check out their first albums, they ROCK!! The only thing is the band is quite unknown, I doubt you can find their discography anywhere other than in Guatemala. I'm glad I live here!

I have been looking for them   Hey....I want to live there as well.....sit through D.C.  traffic and you'll know what I mean hahahha

They will be added this evening..and I really look forward to seeing  your and Raul's reviews.  I'll plunk the cash down for the albums.. .but I want some reviews..