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Jaime Rosas - Flashback CD (album) cover

FLASHBACK

Jaime Rosas

 

Symphonic Prog

3.70 | 45 ratings

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memowakeman
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Wonderful album by this Chilean talent!

Jaime Rosas is a trained and talented musician from Chile, who has been involved in several musical projects through his career. I could see him on stage some years ago at Baja Prog Fest with his band Entrance, but I did not know his solo work. So with some luck I could meet him some days ago, had a great talk and received his music which I have really enjoyed so far. So in this 2011 he released a new album, entitled 'Flashback' which reunites six compositions in which Jaime had been working in the past.

And I will quote him: 'It is a 'greatest hits' CD of never-recorded (and sometimes never- composed) music. During this process, I have rediscovered several worlds which I had previously abandoned, I have been able to discover new ones and it has been an excellent opportunity to meet old and new friends'. So with this, we can understand that it is a very personal album to him, which surely encourage him to finish it and make its high-quality songs. As I said, it comprises six compositions making a total time of 53 minutes. It starts with the longest and probably most complex and ambitious track, a 20-minute song entitled 'Primera Luz', in which we will listen to bombastic keyboards, fast-tempo rhythm, a wonderful and elaborated bass, and a constant drumming. Here we can easily appreciate the compositional and technical skills of Rosas, his Hammond solos are mind-blowing, they don't let you escape once you are inside the song.

The first half of the track is instrumental, with those fast moments full of keyboard explosions; while the second is calmer, with the introduction of a male voice, synthesizers creating background and a melancholic feeling. However, after 15 minutes the song changes and turns once again into a bombastic keyboard feast, creating the omniscient symphonic sound, but adding a kind of heavy-prog touch. What a wonderful way to start the album, I was impressed since the first time I listened to it, because it is really, really good.

'El principio del ritmo' highly contrasts with the previous one. Here you will find a delicate piano full of tranquility and peace, accompanied by a bass and a guitar, creating a relaxing and delicious jazzy song. It is nice how he decided to intercalate these two completely different songs, but someone said 'after the storm comes the calm'.

But don't say victory, because after that calmer song, Jaime Rosas returns once again with an explosive one. 'Buenos Momentos' begins fast and heavy, closer to symphonic metal, but what I like is that later a combination of styles appear, with the guitar the music sounds rockier, with the bass a bit funkier, and with the Hammond solos closer to the symphonic prog styles of old monsters such as Wakeman or Emerson. This is the shortest track, but an excellent one nonetheless.

Once again, a notable change in rhythm and mood. 'Lejos' begins with a soft guitar riff and seconds later vocals appear, creating a delicate and ballad-like track. The piano sound is warm and charming, the guitar emotional, however, after those first three outstanding tracks, this one sounds a bit weaker, which does not mean it is bad, not at all, it is only my least favorite song of the album.

'Memoria' is on the other hand, a favorite of mine. This is a six-minute instrumental song with a wonderful structure that little by little is involving you. Here I would like to highlight the guitar work, with constant riffs and a protagonist role, great work of Ignacio Ruiz. And of course, the keyboard playing of Rosas is once again excellent. This song is easy to love, with me it was like love at first sight, and every time I listen to I truly enjoy it.

Finally the title-track, 'Flashback' is the song that finishes the album, here we will have the last ten minutes of this journey to the past. And the song actually starts like that, with all those noises, I imagine being inside one's mind and getting loads of memories for a split second, something really fast. But later the song calms down and I still imagine the memories, but this time in a state of tranquility and relaxation. In the CD booklet we can see a collage of images, which in my opinion reflects what this particular track shares. After some minutes that tranquility disappears and a sort of chaotic electronic sound appears, reminding me a bit of Tangerine Dream, but with some orchestral arrangements that put a different and own sound. Excellent final song!

What a great album by Jaime Rosas, with works like this, his music will surely reach more people and get positive criticism. I highly recommend it. Easily, four stars.

Enjoy it!

memowakeman | 4/5 |

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