ÅTABAL-YÉMAL

TEMPANO are one of the first Prog bands to come out of Venezuela, forming in 1977 this their debut was released in 1979. It's mostly instrumental (over half) with lots of keyboards.Tasteful, classy and intricate are words that come to mind. Fairly pastoral overall and quite different from their later albums like "Childhood's End" and "The Agony & The Ecstacy" which besides being more modern sounding focus more on the vocals. I much prefer this debut to those later ones I mentioned.

"Cascade" opens with lots of synths then the tempo shifts a few times before the drums lead 2 minutes in. Great section here then it picks back up 5 1/2 minutes in. "Hecho De Horas" opens with keys as reserved vocals join in along with other sounds. Synths after 3 minutes when the vocals stop. I love the guitar that follows.Vocals are back after 4 minutes. "Las Olas (Virginia Woolf)" opens with fairly spacey synths and a beat.Guitar 1 1/2 minutes in.The synths are back leading a minute later. Bass comes to the fore 3 minutes in.The guitar then leads after 4 minutes. Nice.That intro soundscape is back at 6 minutes to end it.

"Atabal Yemal" is not the easiest track to digest. Probably because it's not the most melodic I guess. It takes a while to get going really.The guitar is crying out before 2 1/2 minutes as it continues to lead and wail until 4 1/2 minutes in. Bass and spacey synths before 7 minutes. A calm a minute later. Synths lead 9 1/2 minutes in as they pulse quickly. It kicks back in late to end it.

"Anhelos" is a short song with acoustic guitar and reserved vocals leading with background synths. "Presencias Y Ausencias" opens with synths and gentle guitar as reserved vocals join in. A calm with keys after 3 minutes then the guitar and a beat join in. Another calm follows.Vocals are back before 6 1/2 minutes then we get another calm a minute after that with faint vocal melodies, synths and guitar.There are three bonus tracks and this is one of the few releases where the bonus tracks do the rest of the recording justice. Great job guys !