DANCE OF THE GOODBYES

What is it with Spain these days ? It's purely coincidence but i've been listening to this Canterbury Spanish band AMOEBA SPLIT and the Jazz / Fusion Spanish band PLANETA IMAGINERO this past week and both have impressed me to no end. I must admit that I get a real charge out of new bands who play in the Zeuhl or Canterbury style these days because you know they are doing it out of love for the music. We get female vocals and plenty of sax and flute here.

"Dedicated To Us, But We Weren't Listening" is an obvious nod to the SOFT MACHINE track "Listening To You, But You Weren't Listening" and perhaps MATCHING MOLE's "Listening To Hugh, But You Weren't Listening". Apparently they are big fans of both bands.This one is led by organ early before guitar then keyboards lead. Great opening track. "Perfumed Garden" has these reserved vocals with pastoral music early on then it turns fuller a minute in and picks up. A calm before 3 minutes as the music stops and spoken words can be heard. Organ, bass and drums then take over and the guitar arrives before 4 minutes followed by sax. It settles and the vocals are back before 5 1/2 minutes with bass and piano. It's jazzy late to end it. "Turbulent Matrix" has some fuzzed organ leads with bass and drums before it settles into a jazzy mode. Flute and bass lead then guitar replaces the flute. Flute is back then sax before 4 1/2 minutes. Great sound when it picks up 8 1/2 minutes in,then it settles back a minute later.

"Blessed Water" opens with piano before some mellotron joins in.Yes I said mellotron ! Vocals and bass as it stays releaxed. It picks up some after 4 1/2 minutes and tasteful guitar arrives a minute later. Sax arrives then we get vocals once again before 8 1/2 minutes as it settles. It picks back up and we get more sax, organ and mellotron. "Qwerty" is a short uptempo jazzy piece. "Flight To Nowhere" is the over 23 minute closer. It kicks in before 1 1/2 minutes. Excellent sound ! Piano, bass and drums with sax playing over top is so impressive.Vocals follow. Flute and guitar then come to the fore when the vocals stop. Piano, drums and vocals are back 4 1/2 minutes in. Sax before 6 minutes leads the way.These guys just continue to rip it up instrumentally. I love when it turns heavy before 17 minutes and we get mellotron too. Great sound ! This continues until about 21 1/2 minutes then avant piano comes in to end it.

A must for Canterbury fans out there. A very solid 4 stars.