CONFUSIÓN

From the very initial passages of this album's opening track you can tell that Supay's music portrays a special kind of magic, a magic that can only arise from the heartland of Inca folklore. And that's what Supay's prog offering is all about: the creation of a symphonic prog sound that is enriched and recycled by the incorporation of various colours from Andean folklore, something that is not only provided by the two woodwind players, but also by a number of melodic lines performed on lead guitar and harmonic bases laid by the keyboards. The rhythm section, simultaneously, lays a solid ground for the overall sound, allowing it to flow cohesively through all the motif variations and tempo shifts, which get linked to each other with a most delicate fluency. The statement so majestically incarnated in 'Pueblo Mío' is later reinforced in the title track, as well as in 'En el Viento' and 'Imperio' - the latter two are perhaps the most vivacious numbers in the album, and they could be loosely described as Jethro Tull's "Songs from the Wood"-meets-Los Jaivas' "Alturas de Machu Picchu". A special mention goes to bassist Danuser, whose melodic lines flow powerfully beneath the keyboard layers and guitar/woodwind solos, especially on the last three tracks. The almost 9-minute long "Avanzando" is one of the longest tracks in the album, and also the one with the most complex structure: it includes some occasional jazzy flavours, as well as a higher level of energy during the rockier sections. Proaño's guitar shines here and in 'Confusión' like it won't in any of the remaining pieces. "La Nueva" (almost 9-minute long, too) is the track with the most overtly mystical feel to it: starting with a tellurian motif played on three woodwind instruments on a martial rhythm pattern, the track soon moves to the central motif, which is mostly a well-sustained exercise on textures displayed across a meditative atmosphere, especially featuring Reaño's lead guitar. Picture the spirit of PF's 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' seasoned with some Agitation Free spices, and cooked in an Andean kermesse. If "Avanzando" shows Supay at their most intense and colourful, "La Nueva" finds the band heading for the realms of introspection. 'Chicago Chico' closes down the album as a sort of recapitulation of the first two tracks, combining the full frontal Andean magic of 'Pueblo Mío' and the varied sophistication of 'Avanzando'. Even though this is the band's first album, you can notice a solid mark of maturity and clear artistic vision: this mark has certainly allowed them to exploit the nuances of their compositional ideas with enough proficiency as to make a completely excellent album out of them. "Confusión" is one of the most pleasant surprises to emerge from current South American prog folk: therefore, Supay reveals itself as a musical force worth checking out.