EL CUENTO DE LAS MANOS HELADAS

PLESIOSAURIO are a four piece band from Argentina and this is their debut from 2015. They just released album number two in 2022 and they also have a couple of live recordings which includes their very first release from 2014. The guitarist and drummer both sing and the latter also plays flute. This is a long one at around 73 minutes over six tracks including that 29 1/2 minute closer. This is self released and the sound quality could be better but this for sure is a proggy record. The guitar and organ tend to solo along with the flute. Very much a contrast of mellow and heavy throughout with the mellow lingering around much longer than the heavy. There is a lot of acoustic guitar on here as well I might add.

The short 2 1/2 minute third track with the long title is pretty much acoustic guitar, piano and fragile vocals starting and ending the song with more passion briefly starting before 2 minutes. The next track "Al Cielo Con Crayone" at 4 minutes is pretty catchy starting off mellow with acoustic guitar, reserved vocals and organ. Vocals get stronger and the sound turns snappy. The opener "Viejo Mundo" at over 7 minutes features quite a bit of flute along with acoustic guitar and organ. Mellow stuff but a dancing melody kicks in flute led around 5 1/2 minutes with an ethnic vibe.

"Parte VII" is over 8 1/2 minutes and is different as we get some Ozzy-like vocals here and electric guitar along with drums and organ. There's a darker vibe to this one. Pretty much flute only over the final 2 1/2 minutes or so. "Monte Erebus" is almost 22 minutes long and we get contrasts and repeated themes throughout. It's uptempo and flute led from the hop and some depth here. The first impressive section for me comes after 6 minutes where it turns powerful. It's KING CRIMSON-like around 10 minutes in and heavy a minute later. The closer at well over 29 minutes has it's moments and not so great moments, an inconsistent closer in my opinion. A lot of highs and lows over this period of almost half an hour!

This is a pretty good album and it would be interesting to hear their latest. A 3 star record.