RECUERDOS DE MI TIERRA

This is a fast-paced album that rarely lets up, stringing one grating riff with another in rapid succession. At times, the band sounds very much like a classic, hard-rocking Jethro Tull. There are excellent musical ideas throughout this album- most of them are just poorly placed in relation to one another.

"Recuerdos de Mi Tierra" Following a thudding bass and synthesizer introduction, quick, jarring, guitar-led progressive rock breaks forth. Sticking out like they don't belong are the Spanish-flavored acoustic guitar interruptions. After the lengthy instrumental beginning, a verse section begins abruptly, featuring decent but not great vocals over a busy patchwork of musical phrases.

"El Bizco de los Patios" This second song rocks harder than its predecessor, but still has that strident lack of flow. The worst aspect of this, however, is that the lead guitar sounds out of tune. Also, it doesn't help that the piece ends so abruptly, as though the band just said, "Okay, that's enough of that one. Moving on!"

"Desde que Somos Dos" After a terse solo, the drummer is quickly joined by bass and then the ensemble playing a series of glitzy runs. Interjecting again, there are several acoustic guitar cadenzas in call and response fashion introducing the singer (much like the first track).

"Ara Buza" Quirky and unsettled riffs ride a wave of handclaps as a hauntingly sweet electric guitar or thudding bass solo breaks up. The vocal section is structured more like a hard rock song with progressive leanings- a line sung followed by a heavy, complex riff. The second half bears no relation to what came before- it just happens, using fast percussion, a loose group of singers belting out the title, and active guitar soloing.

"Suicidio" The band engages in further frenzied music. The vocals and guitar soloing are highlights of the piece, and there's a rare moment of peacefulness, which makes excellent use of the bass and passionate vocalizations.

"Obertura en Si Bemol" The final tune is a peppy one, with happy organ, synthesizer, and guitar- essentially one solo after another. However, it is ultimately more of the same tricks with nothing fresh in store- great soloing, a fantastic rhythm section, yes, but nothing new. As with the other tracks on this album, the music is difficult to follow.