TOBA-TRANCE

4.5 stars. LOS NATAS were a Stoner Rock trio out of Argentina who released 8 studio albums between 1996 and 2010. Quite influential too, especially in South America but these guys did many World tours. Their debut was much in the KYUSS style before becoming more original with 99's "Ciudad De Brahman" which is rated insanely high on the RYM site with tons of ratings. I have it and it features short vocal tracks for the most part but even within these pieces they change it up often as they have that progressive spirit for sure.

The next album from 2001 "Corsario Negro" is much better with them expanding the tracks, less vocals, better songs. The followup to it is this record "Toba-Trance" from 2002 and you wouldn't even know it was the same band. No vocals except for some wordless vocals on that second song plus some spoken and yelled words in Spanish on the closer. And three long trippy tracks over 52 1/2 minutes.

I have absolutely fallen for this album but that last track keeps me from giving this 5 stars. Having said that the first two songs I just can't get enough of. Repeated themes, that beautiful sounding electric guitar with those inviting melodies that come and go. It took many spins but man my kind of music. The contrasts too on those first two tracks aren't between the trippy and heavy but trippy and intense sections. There is a difference with that final track having some heaviness generated by what sounds like down-tuned guitar rumbling along a one point but this is far from Stoner music.

The closer I feel is too artsy for it's own good. The guitarist adds flute plus we get some percussion giving this tune an ethnic and native vibe for sure. It's just so sparse at times but having said that I'm drawn to the thunderous atmosphere to open and close, some yelling and carrying on too suggesting this may have a concept to it that I wish I knew about. Seems like a special track but it's difficult to enjoy much of the time. The rest is simply beautiful psychedelic music.