LOS JAIVAS [AKA: EL INDIO]

This is my first review here in PROGARCHIVES, and I want to start talking about an amazing band from my country: LOS JAIVAS, a piece of Chilean history and identity. "El Indio" was released in Argentina, with the group in exile, due to a military dictatorship. The band explores new places and landscapes, and it serves as new inspirations for their music. This album is crossed by a strong Latin American feeling, and it has some of the most memorable Jaivas´ compositions.

In first place, we have "Pregón para iluminarse". This track is happiness, party, unity of consciences and frontier´s dissolution. It express the wish of propagate love and light to every corner of the world. It starts with a playful flute, and gradually the battery, charanjo, piano and electric guitar become attached to this beautiful creation. The lyrics are really beautiful, and they deserve to be read.

Then, "Guajira Cósmica" expresses in its lyrics the Latin American native´s "cosmovision". They talk about the relationship between man, nature and divinity. The music has deep percussions, an elegant work of moog, the playful flute of "Gato Alquinta", and the result is a sensual "Guajira", with one of the finest vocal works of "El gato" in his whole career.

"La conquistada" is, with security, my favorite track of this album. It´s a complex lament, with a "Cueca" rhythm (national dance of Chile), but with a very tragic tune (the "Cueca" is very joyful originally). This is understandable, because in this track Eduardo Parra talks about his feelings about the destroyed Santiago de Chile after the coup d'état. The band clearly shares his feelings, and the result is this deep composition, with a nostalgic electric guitar, a desperate piano and gloomy vocals.

"Un mar de gente" is a hymn filled with Latin American brotherhood feelings. The lyrics are more poetical than in "Todos Juntos" (From his album "La Ventana"), and the music is deeper and more exciting with a fast charango, emotional percussions, beautiful corals and a strong ensemble that makes think about a real crowd beyond this incredible sound.

"Un día de tus días" is, maybe, the weakest track of the album. It isn´t bad, but compared with the other songs is complex less. It is closer to folk: the proggy component isn´t much here. .

Finally, "Tarka y Ocarina" is a delight. 13:21 minutes of a real ensemble of rock and folk. The composition is a trip among sounds, landscapes and memories of the north of Chile. In "Diablada" the rhythm is a complex and unique version of the diabladas of "La fiesta de la tirana", traditional carnival that takes place on July, every year. The rhythm changes are very interesting and well succeed. In "Trote" and "Kotaiki" Claudio Parra definitively shines on the piano, showing pure sensibility and beauty.

In summary, for me this album deserves 4.5 stars. Because "Los Jaivas" have better albums than this, I give them 4 stars for their fine work on "El Indio". I apologize for my limited English, and I invite everyone to hear and rate the work of those chileans. Hundred people rates very popular bands like Genesis, Jethro Tull and Pink Floyd, but Latin America has great musicians and has many things to say too.

Cheers from Chile!