EL VIAJE

The progressive folk rock formation Supay from Peru is a fascinating musical encounter between the world of the Andean folk with its soaring ethnic flutes and cheerful acoustic guitars and progressive rock, with its sumptuous keyboards and powerful electric guitars. Between 2004 and 2013 Supan only released three studio-albums, and one EP. I am delighted about their debut CD entitled Confusion from 2004, this review is about the successor El Viaje, from 2007. On El Viaje one of the two Andean woodwind instrument players (Alex Valenzuela) left and a second bass player named Renzo Danuser is added.

Despite the changes in the line-up Supay still sounds like a captivating blend of ethnic music and progressive rock. With players on the distinctive Andean woodwind instruments like the 'quena' (high pitched traditional flute), the 'zampona' (panflute) and 'quenacho' (lower pitched 'quena'), and with hot rocking guitars (on this album a bit more than on Confusion), often accompanied by a swirling organ. What an unique tension between these two worlds: the one moment you hear a mellow atmosphere with Andean flutes featuring that melancholical undertone, the other moment it's fiery and heavy electric guitar work with hints from Ritchie Blackmore. How thrilling, that British rock guitar legend, adopted by Andean progheads, on Peruvian heights!

The most exciting blend of folk and rock is the composition Resurreccion: an intro with Mellotron choirs and organ in combination with electric guitar, then Andean flutes with strong bass play and in the end fiery wah-wah drenched guitar and bombastic keyboards, what a breathtaking chemistry!

I hope this kind of 'harder-edged version of Los Jaivas' will be discovered by the progressive folk rock aficionados, it certainly deserves more recognition and attention (only two reviews in 11 years). To be honest, I still have to order their third album entitled Senales, from 2013 (only 9 ratings and no reviews).