LOS DELIRIOS DEL MARISCAL

As excellent as their debut is, that album proved the band needed lengthier compositions to allow the band to stretch out, and with "Los Delirios del Mariscal", this band out of Argentina delivers just that. This time around, Anibal Kerpal purchased a Fender Rhodes electric piano, giving the band a bit more of a fusion slant than their previous offering. What little DEEP PURPLE/ATOMIC ROOSTER influences had been thrown out the window here, in favor of that FOCUS/FINCH sound, with more of a PINK FLOYD or CAMEL feel. The vocals are now confined to only one cut, "No Me Separen de Mí", probably realizing vocals aren't their strong point, and it allows them to do what they do best: concentrate on instrumentals. And contrary to what some might say, I think this is an improvement over their debut.

The production, for one thing, is even better (although recorded at RCA Studios, presumably in Buenos Aires, it was mixed in Criteria Studios in Miami, yes the same studio well known acts like the BEE GEES and the EAGLES had recorded at). The opening cut, as mention, the only one with vocals, has more than a passing resemblance to Italian prog acts, like CORTE DEI MIRACOLI or NEW TROLLS. The vocal style reminds me a bit of PFM. The next cut is the title track, dominated by guitar and string synths, played in that FINCH (circa "Beyond Expression") and CAMEL manner. For some reason I am also reminded of ELOY's "Power of the Passion" (specifically "The Bells of Notre Dame"). The next two are the album's climax, that is "Pollo Frito" and "Abismo Terrenal". The former tends to be more fusion oriented, with Anabel Kerpal's electric piano dominating, and Pino Marrone playing guitar in a more fusion manner, but instead of a boring wankfest that I often level at fusion (I'm not big on fusion), it turns out to be an intense piece. And if that's not enough, the last piece harkens to the most intense moments of FINCH's "Glory of the Inner Force". Pino Marrone just goes overboard on his guitar, almost like if he never plays another note again... When the music calms down, it's more in that PINK FLOYD, CAMEL, and FOCUS manner. "Abismo Terranal" is without a doubt the greatest piece of music I've heard from a Latin American country. Highly recommended stuff, and without a doubt the best album I've heard from a Latin country.