SINKRONOS

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Recently received a copy of "Sinkronos" by courtesy of Viajero Inmovil Records and even when I'm busy with other issues, I felt the urge to review the album, due to the fresh and innovative approach, that marks a new stage in HYACINTUS career.

Usually the band presents a traditional 70's Symphonic approach, but in this case they also explore the Rock oriented side of the band, with blend of different Classical eras, adding wonderful guitar fantasies and very well developed choral works, which make of "Sinkronos" a very interesting project for those of us who believe that Progressive Rock bands should re-invent themselves but showing respect for their roots.

For what I read, "Sinkronos" is a conceptual album about a being who is sent to earth to fulfill a mission, but when he reaches or planet, the environment, family, friends and real life makes him forget the reason of his existence. It's divided in three trilogies plus a short epilog.

The album is starts with "Mission Dada", a track that starts with a clear Blues approach and a very interesting guitar work, but still you can feel the Symphonic structure floating all around, some vocal effects complete the oneiric atmosphere, very solid opener.

"Hipno Délfico" is a return to the symphonic roots of the band, the majestic chorus and impressive piano work are simply delightful, specially when blended with classical guitar, reminds me a bit of some of the best "VANGELIS" works but without the New Age component. Very dramatic and obscure with some electric guitar fugues that remind us that Progressive Rock without Rock is incomplete, excellent song.

"Ritual Lunar (El Fraude)" is a strange song that starts with clear ALAN PARSONS PROJECT reminiscences, not my favorite track being that is a bit too poppy for my taste, but the constant changes and the excellent production manage to keep my interest. Not the best song but neither weak.

The second trilogy starts with "Shakespeare (Ethical)", more oriented towards Hard Rock, despite there are lyrics that can be understood, the vocals seem more like an extra instrument because the distortion gives this feeling, nice and different with interesting changes, aggressive and dark simultaneously.

"Explore (Plan SEA)" starts with a piano introduction that leads to one of the most beautiful melodies I ever heard, melancholic and dramatic, reminds me a bit of "Felona e Sorona" by LE ORME because of the sad atmosphere, simply delightful.

"Implacable Kronos" starts faster with a very good guitar, percussion and keyboard interplay, less Symphonic and more Electronic than the previous, this intro is followed by percussion and vocals based melody clearly reminiscent of ALAN PARSONS PROJECT, "I Robot". In this track Ada Guitart adds some weird vocals in English, with evident accent but very listenable.

"Asoma (SErA)" starts again with a blues based intro, not very complex development, until more or less 1:30 minutes when a typical 80's synthesizer is added, then some sound effects and the guitar continues in the Blues mood with chorals. Nice tune, but not in the level of the previous.

"Heart Place" is the first ballad in the album with a very nice acoustic guitar and keyboards intro, a dark mysterious voice a bit distorted adds more dramatics, somehow in the mood of Russia or Eastern Europe Folk. The song continues in a more calmed but mysterious mood, really good stuff.

"Mission Recordada" is the last track of the second trilogy and it's extremely good, there's a fusion of almost everything, from Symphonic to electronic and Rock with classical guitar, trying to describe it futile, because there are very few references to something like this, maybe MIKE OLDFIELD in "Tubular Bells Part I" because the structure is also consisting of variations over one theme that goes "in crescendo" until the end when the dark soft sound returns, 10 minutes of pure Prog.

The album is closed by "VESENEVI" which acts as a epilog for the album, this rime recorded in an almost religious Baroque mood, and a weird finale.

It's interesting how the author has added the tempo to the name of each track, which is useful as an indication to what you can expect. Very careful production and incredibly clear sound, makes the listening experience much more pleasant.

Not a masterpiece, but close to this status, so I will rate "Sinkronos" with 4 solid stars, because despite some weaker moments, the band never loses the interest of the listener, and the strong moments are outstanding.

"Sinkronos" is the third opus by the talented Argentinean progressive multi-instrumentalist Hyacintus - a long overdue follow-up to the splendid "Fantasia en Concerto". If the aforesaid sophomore Hyacintus effort was a real highlight in the recent history of Argentina's symphonic rock due to its accomplished epic atmospheres, "Sinkronos" manages to distance itself a bit from the epic framework in favor of the elaboration of a modernized approach to the standards of symphonic prog. As usual, "Sinkronos" was conceived as a concept-album, this time revolving around the mission undertaken by a man who has to let joy and good feelings lead the way so he can properly fulfill it. The album kicks off on a quite extroverted note with 'Mission Dadá', with a stylish accentuation on guitar harmonies and keyboard orchestrations: it is appealing without getting really that pompous. 'Hipno Délfico' goes for dreamy atmospheres, mainly dominated by the dialogues between piano and acoustic guitar; here we find a sort of mixture of Wakeman's romantic side and early 80s Vangelis. 'Ritual Lunar (El Fraude)' brings back the solemnity that had been so patent in the opener, with a catchy vibe that may remind us of The Alan Parsons Project at its best (circa "Pyramid" and "Turn of a Friendly Card"). Personally, I would have enjoyed this track more had it explored a fuller sound in its global framework, but overall, it shows a well accomplished compositional work. The use of a bossanova section featuring acoustic guitar in the coda makes an unexpected, effective adornment. The following tracks are distributed in two groups of three: the groups are 'Sueño 1' and 'Sueño 2' 'Shakespeare! (Ethical)' starts 'Sueño 1' with full symphonic splendor, including the use of ethnic cadences in the rhythmic basis. 'Explore (Plan SEA)' combines sobriety and emotion: the evocative piano phrases and the ethereal synth layers convey a sense of loneliness. 'Implacable Kronos', on the other hand, states a rocking dynamics verging on the standard of melodic hard rock. As we get closer to the end, the track evolves into bombastic grounds before the arrival of a classical guitar coda on a deep Baroque tone. 'Sueño 2' begins with 'Asoma (SErA)', which restates many of the ambiences and moods that had already been present in tracks 1 and 4, albeit set on a stronger symphonic trend. 'Heart Place' remains on eerie moods, featuring melancholic lines on classical guitar and subtly complex keyboard layers. This is arguably the most beautiful composition in the album, certainly that's what it seems to me. 'Mission Recordada', lasting 10 minutes, is the album's longest track: the linkage between various moods shows a powerful consistency through the constant symphonic moods that successfully articulate the whole architecture. The dreamy serenity in the final moments makes it easy for the emergence of 'Vesenevi', the cosmic cantata that ends the album in a ceremonious fashion. In comparison, "Sinkronos" does not get to impress me as much as "Fantasia en Concerto", but I regard it as an excellent prog item, all the same. Hyacintus is an important name to be considered when we think about South America's contemporary prog rock - tarcks 2, 4, 8 and 9 are my personal favorites out of "Sinkronos".