MAR DE ROBLES

I think Mar de Robles is one of the best bands playing nowadays here in this country, and I had the pleasure to see his 10th anniversary show in 2008. Those are ten years of music, and only two CDs. That's Chile and prog.

This debut CD is really beautiful, in a kind of conceptual format, with lyrics in some songs, and with a clear aim of what they wanted to do. Maybe it's discussable that of the lyrics, considering that they were suppressed from their second release, but that is only a detail. The core of the music, the north, it's clearly defined on this CD. This flute/sax and guitar leaded progressive rock, with a close relation with the most native aspects of these lands, builds a particular sound of anger, love, sorrow and companionship.

The second percussion builds a sincere background of Chilean airs, and the bass playing gives a value added to the music itself; great work from Cristián Larrondo, here playing bass guitar and fretless bass.

I love this band and I love this CD, from the beautiful mellow verses of Nómades, to the angriest madness of Milodón, all the hard guitar work and the softly flutes. Mar de Robles made an excellent debut album and, for all of our joy, not only the debut.