ALADOS

Bassist Francisco Martín and vocalist Eliana Valenzuela--both essential and virtuoso performers in their craft--are gone! Señor Martín is replaced with "touch guitar" player Natán Idi and Ms. Valenzuela by male singer, Javier Briceño. The music is good, very well composed and performed. I just need some time to adjust.

(Later.) The music just doesn't have the emotional impact nor (surprisingly) the technical and stylistic daring as their previous effort. Even were Ms. Valenzuela still a contributing member there is just something missing here that I don't think even her extraordinary gifts could save. Even the recording engineering seems weak and uneven, even unpolished. I do like the effect of the touch guitar, I just miss some of the more complex soundscapes and diverse styles--and I totally dislike the way the drums are recorded. Though the trumpet play is beautiful, it lacks dynamism, power, and emotion--it could've been performed by a synthesizer. Their is so much cliche and repetition here--and there are times that I actually find the guitar and vocals annoying (so I skip ahead--which is something I don't like to do and rarely do do).

Five star song: 3. "Queltehue (8:02) (9/10).

Four star songs: 2. "Cachudito (5:48) (8.5/10); 5. "Fio Fio (5:21) (8.5/10); 10. "Chuncho (7:30) (8.5/10); 4. "Chercan (4:01) (8/10); 8. "Loica (4:46) (8/10); 1. "Tenca (8:03) (8/10); 9. "Traro (6:20) (7.5/10); 11. "Garza (5:22) (7.5/10), and; 6. "Vari (4:12) (7/10).

Three star song: 7. "Pequen (4:29) (6.5/10).

A 3.5 star album. I'm rating it down for huge disappointment factor. Alados is quite a step down from Estirpe Litica--in virtually every way possible--especially in unrealized potential.