Cast - Originalis (2008, Mexico)
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Recommendations/Featured albums
Forum Description: Make or seek recommendations and discuss specific prog albums
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=51935
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Topic: Cast - Originalis (2008, Mexico)
Posted By: avestin
Subject: Cast - Originalis (2008, Mexico)
Date Posted: September 20 2008 at 19:39
http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=51 - CAST - http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=18583 - Originallis
http://www.castlives.com/prog/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=54">
PA bio:
CAST was founded in 1978 in Mexico. So this year they have been playing for 20 years. Like so many other progressive rock groups they have evolved through the years and the music and influences have been changing between each album. Generally you can say that they are playing melodic progressive rock with many long instrumental passages combined with influences from baroque, bossonova, classical music, Heavy Metal, Jazz and Tango. The lyrics are mostly based on fantasy themes.
They have a very keyboard oriented British Neo-progressive sound and although they are from Mexico there are no distracting accents. You can hear influences from many different progressive rock bands such as CAMEL, EMERSON LAKE & PALMER, DREAM THEATER, mid-period GENESIS (their main influence), JETHRO TULL, LED ZEPPELIN, MARILLION, PENDRAGON, PINK FLOYD, RUSH, SAVATAGE, UK and YES. All of the CD's is passing 60 minutes, with an average track length about 8 minutes long.
CAST is definitely one of the best neo-progressive bands together with MARILLION and PENDRAGON. It's very strange that they haven't gained more recognition in the neo-progressive genre. CAST is also said to be a very good live act.
- Greger Rönnqvist
Their 2008 release is a SPLENDID symphonic-prog album, filled with wonderful, haunting melodies, great musicianship, exciting songs and instrumentals that shift from the moving and slower parts to fast and dynamic.
One of my favourite albums of 2008 so far.
http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=18583 - CAST — Originallis Review by http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=4595 - avestin (Assaf Vestin) Special Collaborator
— First review of this album —
I have heard of Cast before and got curious about them, but never heard more than snippets of their music. I read a few favourable reviews of their previous album, Com.Union but didn’t pick it up. So, Originallis is my first proper listen to the music of Cast, this long-time active Mexican band.
And what and album it is!
A double album, this 2008 release is over 90 minutes long, filled with lovely symphonic rock moments, embracing keyboards, powerful lead guitar playing and delightful playing of other instruments such as saxophone, flute and clarinet.
The songs flow into each other naturally, connected and seem to not end. The music changes mood and pace from a relaxed opening song named after the title of the album to the highly energetic, fun and enthralling instrumental piece that is Pulsar. It is a fantastic piece, emotional and powerful, shifting from a slightly melancholic state to an optimistic and positive mood, always on the move, not giving the listener any rest, but not in an exhausting kind of way; simply it just goes on and on, evolving as it goes on, adding structures and changing instruments as it develops. The sax solo, the use of the female vocalizations, and the rest of this expanded lineup take this track one notch up than it would have been, showing the importance of knowing how to not only construct your song but also how to orchestrate it, “paint” it with ingredients that will take it further on.
There are wonderful melodic lines, filled with passion and which sound powerful thanks to the enhanced lineup and the female vocalization. The balance between the melodic and the complex and dynamic is at a good position, as the switching occurs seamlessly and the result can proudly stand in line with other current great lineups of progressive rock bands. The male vocals by Alejandro Tornero are delicate and soft, matching the music and melodies and do not overshadow the rich sound of the band and the full gamut of instruments played upon. The female vocals and vocalization adds another magical layer to the already thrilling basis and fit very well.
I have also to mention the wonderful artwork of the album, magnificent drawings that are a delight to look at while listening to the music.
As said above, this is a long album, but for some reason I could get into it quite quickly and surprisingly for an album of this length, already from the second listen. While the music can be complex at times, it is quite accessible and bears a charm hard for me to resist. You may want to use the natural division of the two cd’s to have separate listens and make it easier to grasp. If you like current and 90’s Italian symphonic prog bands you might recognize some similarities in the style.
The album mixes very well the wonderful symphonic-prog sound with lush keyboards alongside heavy, almost metal-like guitar solos. If you like symphonic-prog that travels between the soft and heavy the tender and powerful, this is a very worthwhile album to get. A fantastic album.
http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=28343 - Report this review (#182697) | Posted Wednesday, September 17, 2008, 13:45 EST http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=182697 - Review Permalink | http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=18583#postAReview - Submit a review for this album | http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=18583#buymusic - Buy this album from PA partners
Listen to the band here:
http://www.castlives.com/ - http://www.castlives.com/
http://www.myspace.com/cast - http://www.myspace.com/cast
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Replies:
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: September 20 2008 at 21:36
Thank you Avestin. I am even more intrigued now. This definitely sounds like an album that I need to hear.
Edit: I went on and did other things while playing the YouTube songs on their MySpace page. Definitely "love at first listen". They indeed sound quite awesome.
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: September 21 2008 at 21:09
rushfan4 wrote:
Thank you Avestin. I am even more intrigued now. This definitely sounds like an album that I need to hear.
Edit: I went on and did other things while playing the YouTube songs on their MySpace page. Definitely "love at first listen". They indeed sound quite awesome.
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I'm sure you'll love the album.
With each listen I give it, I just love it more. It's simply a fabulous release. Such rich in sound and filled with passion, man great intricacies that enhance it, fantastic playing, great ideas, wonderful and beautiful tunes.... Exactly what I want from an album!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
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Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: September 22 2008 at 14:40
Hi Assaf, excellent recommendation!
Though i don't own the album, i saw them performing several of the songs included in "Originallis" and were terrific, i listened to the complete album twice in a friend's house, when i buy it i may give a better opinion about it.
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: September 22 2008 at 15:12
memowakeman wrote:
Hi Assaf, excellent recommendation!
Though i don't own the album, i saw them performing several of the songs included in "Originallis" and were terrific, i listened to the complete album twice in a friend's house, when i buy it i may give a better opinion about it. |
Hola Memo, was waiting for you to appear here!
It's a wonderful album I just can't get enough of it. I listen to it repeatedly and it gets better and better with each listen.
A must buy for all lovers of symphonic-prog/rock (whatever you may want to call it).
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: October 02 2008 at 18:03
Bump...
The more I listen to it, the more I love this album.
Easily in my top list for 2008 and becoming one of my favourite in general!
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Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: October 02 2008 at 22:47
wow i'm ashamed i haven't bought it yet, but due to your words, i think i MUST do it ASAP
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Posted By: Guitar Noir
Date Posted: October 09 2008 at 11:14
Cast cds are getting harding and harder to find, where did you buy the new cd?
------------- "Sometimes the afterglow isn't enough and we have to move on." Steve Hackett
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: October 09 2008 at 12:56
Guitar Noir wrote:
Cast cds are getting harding and harder to find, where did you buy the new cd? |
Mine is a promotional copy.
You can get them at Greg Walker's: http://www.synphonic.8m.com/country/mexico.htm%20 - http://www.synphonic.8m.com/country/mexico.htm
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: October 20 2008 at 16:36
bump
anyone else got this album?
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: December 30 2008 at 09:36
Bumping this again in the hopes the more people check this album out; Still my favourite from this year! Brilliant playing and compositions, melodic, enthusiastic, fun, emotional, uplifting, beautiful, compelling... Seriously GET THIS!!!
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Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: December 30 2008 at 11:00
^ I wish I could, but the album is not available through my usual "channels". I wonder why the bands aren't trying to promote their albums better. Not in terms of advertising, but in making sure that if people are interested in the music, they should find it on the most popular downloading platforms and only stores.
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Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: December 30 2008 at 11:03
BTW: Found the album at Mindawn.com ... but there it's spelled "Originalis". I guess the album name is wrong in the database?
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: December 30 2008 at 11:29
Mr ProgFreak wrote:
BTW: Found the album at Mindawn.com ... but there it's spelled "Originalis". I guess the album name is wrong in the database?
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The band themselves are not decided on the spelling. In the booklet of the album you can find both spelling types. Weird.
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Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: December 30 2008 at 11:40
hey Assaf, Originallis entered in my top5 of the year, it is an excellent album actually...after more detailed listens i can guarantee that you people will be satisfied with this CD
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Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: December 30 2008 at 11:43
Mr ProgFreak wrote:
BTW: Found the album at Mindawn.com ... but there it's spelled "Originalis". I guess the album name is wrong in the database?
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Thanks Mike - I'll be sure to grab this now.
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: December 30 2008 at 11:51
By the way, to all those who will check it out, the opener song is a slow vocals-lead song that draws you into the mood, very similar to the way the opening the the Bacio Della Medusa does it in their 2008 release. So don't be scared away by the opening, give it a bit of time and then you'll see how the music starts unfolding and in fact will kick in hard from the second song on up until the very end.
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Posted By: GentleGiant
Date Posted: December 30 2008 at 12:03
One of the best band in the last two decades ,very good albums especially the last 3-4 outputs ,luckily me I have all fifteen studio albums
------------- BeGiantForADay
"This British band is just the cup of tea for aficionados who demand virtuosity,progress and originality in their mix."
http://rateyourmusic.com/~GentleG
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Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: October 28 2009 at 16:17
I finally downloaded this album and so far it is quite good.
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: October 28 2009 at 17:15
rushfan4 wrote:
I finally downloaded this album and so far it is quite good. |
glad you like it.
My wife and I love it; I keep coming back to it. It's a non-stop thrill ride for me, beautiful melodies, very well executed, rich sounding, many layers... really, one of my all-time favourites.
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Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: February 03 2010 at 16:12
I have to thank you again Avestin for this recommendation. eMusic recently added Nimbus, Union.Com, and Mosaique, and I am really enjoying these albums. Cast is definitely an excellent band that deserves more recognition.
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 07 2010 at 11:23
Glad you're enjoying it Scott We listen to this album regularly, don't get tired of it. I need to give their other releases some listens as well.
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Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: February 07 2010 at 15:02
Nice to see this thread alive, Originalis is a really good record, hope more people get involved with this.
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Posted By: toroddfuglesteg
Date Posted: February 08 2010 at 10:50
Cast is an under-appreciated band. I recently sent them a list of questions and I hope they will answer them so we can include an interview with them here.
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