LOS ELEMENTALES

With their double album "Agitor Lucens V", Arco Iris had reached the zenith for their exploration into their musical vision, a vision of psychedelia, ethnic vibrations and folkish textures in a peculiar progressive amalgam. With teh departure of guitarists Santaolalla, one of the band's main writers, a crisis took place but Arco Iris managed to survive it and become stronger under the direction of wind player-keyboardist Ara Tokatlina, who serve now as a sole leader for the refurbished band. "Los Elementales", a concept-album about the four elements, is a delicious gem of fusion prog. The band's sound is tighter tha never before, reinforcing the jazzy side of their offering and taking it to a particularly intense level. 'Gob' kicks off the album with an orgasmic based on a multi-precussive explosion invaded by Andean woodwinds - this lisergic opening intro gives way to a Weather Report-like motif lead by the synth. Next come a duel between synth and guitar and an excellent tenor sax solo, which seems to capture the inherent resitance of the Earth. Meanhwile, the rhythm duo of Bodarampe and Pérez set a most solid frame for this excursion. A big entry, indeed... and there are still many great things to come all through the album. 'Destilando el Perfume de los Minerales' brings us a more melancholic vibe: it's a slow piece full of poetic candor, which is enhanced by the soaring synth lines and the final guitar lead. 'Cristalizando los Rayos del Sol' brings us back to frenzy jazz-rock, a bit less centered on the fusion side, for the instrumental passages; the sung parts are set on a rockier mood, alternating with flute-driven bucolic interludes. 'Elemental de Agua' is just a brief reprise of the preceding track's opening theme. The vinyl's A-side ends with the first song of 'Elemental de Agua', titled 'Despertar de los Hijos de la Mañana'. This one is a beutiful instrumental that comprises much musical richness in its less than 4 minutes' duration. The piano motifs, the epic excursions of the full band, the evocative flute and sax leads - all of them are exquisite items ordained within a delicious whole. Even though it somehow bears the aura of a prelude, it has enough qualities as to be appreciated as an autonomous apex of the album. 'Necksa' kicks off with a reprise of the closing theme of 'Despertar...', and then leads things toward an 8 minute jamming excursion tha tbrings red hot jazz-rock in a funky mood: very much like Weather Report-meets-Return to Forever, but with an interesting addition of Latin percussion, a crucial element for the track's particular development, which has more to do with serene sensuality than just frenzy fun. Arguably, here are the most accomplished sax interventions in the album. 'Los nacidos del Viento' is quite different, an acoustic ballad constructed by dual acoustic guitar chords on a 3/4 tempo, ornamented by dreamy interactions of synth and flute. 'Paralda' closes down the album with a similar vibe to that of 'Necksa' but with a wider array of ambiences and a more through aggressiveness in some climatic passages. Even in the rougher sections, the ensemble always sounds as a sonically polished unit. "Los Elementales" is, in my opinion, an absolute gem of South American prog: unlikely but true, Arco Iris came back to life expanding the wildest musical trends that they had envisioned during their pioneering first era and framing this expansion in a very solid fashion. 4 and a half stars for "Los Elementales".

I'm not sure when this Argentinian band changed their style but this sounds nothing like their debut from 8 years earlier. What I loved about the debut was that mood, an almost romantic RPI flavour. What I love about this one is the "lights out" instrumental work that is very much a Jazz Rock / Fusion style. Man these guys can play though. I'm not going to use the complete titles of each track because they are all so long.

"Gob..." is a top three for me.The drumming is so impressive here as it's intricate and crisp throughout and the sax plays over top. Flute joins in then the song kicks in just before a minute. So good. Some nice chunky bass here and excellent guitar work too. Sax and electric piano come to the fore after 2 1/2 minute. Killer stuff. "Destilando..." opens with laid back piano as flute then reserved vocals join in. A fuller sound before 2 minutes. It settles back again and the vocals stop.The tempo continues to shift though. "Cristalizando..." reminds me of the first track, this is such an impressive instrumental display to say the least.Vocals just before 2 minutes as it settles back some.Great track !

"Djin..." is a short uptempo piece with guitar, bass, drums and everyone else putting on a show.Too bad it's so short. "Despertar..." opens with some relaxed piano but a fuller sound arrives quickly.The sax sounds amazing here. Cool tune. "Necksa..." is a top three for me. I love how heavy the rhythm section is on this one as the sax plays over top. Just a pleasure. It turns brighter before 5 minutes then settles down a minute later and vocals join in. "Los Nacidos..." opens with acoustic guitar, synths and bass as reserved vocals join in.

"Paralda..." is my other top three.The wind is blowing and so is the sax as bass and drums help out. It reminds me of NUCLEUS when it gets fuller. It picks up 1 1/2 minutes in. Great sound ! Killer drumming too. Just some incredible instrumental work from 6 minutes to the end. The two bonus tracks are excellent as well.

4.5 stars and a must for fans of ICEBERG and the like.