ENTRE SERES Y SUS RAÍCES

Ovni is the only well-known prog band from El Salvador, found by two brothers, Rafael and Mauricio Alfaro in 1982 in the capital city of the country San Salvador.Initially the band wrote tracks in English, but by mid-80's they turned into their native language, releasing two cassetes in early-90's, material of which was included in their first CD ''En Algún Reino'' in 1995.Shortly after Ovni fell in hiatus but by the end of the decade Rafael (guitar, flute, percussion, vocals) and Mauricio Alfaro (drum programming, keys) returned with bassist Kristian Calderon to release the ambitious 2-CD album ''Entre seres y sus raices''.

The album contains some brand new material, taking the whole first CD, and older re- recorded songs from the band's past live recordings, which capture the second one.Ovni are not really helped by the bearable production, the annoying drum machines and the somewhat cheap synthesizers here and there, but the truth is that this band has some talent.Overall this is a bit of inconsistent release with both good and weak tracks and the length of the album seems sometimes too much to handle.The keyboard instrumental tunes are nice with a decent virtuosic performance and good technique, always with the needed symphonicism, but the sound of synths and organs is a bit plastic.The more straightforward tunes are mostly forgettable and far from the prog side of the band, not to mention the awful digital horn sections.On the other hand there are some very interesting ideas to be found on this double CD album, mostly in a modern Symphonic/Neo Prog vein with flashy synth parts, grandiose symphonic passages, dramatic instrumental sections, careful electric solos and complex breaks in the vein of PENDRAGON, JAIME ROSAS, GOVEA and BEPPE CROVELLA's TOWER.The organs sound really cool on these proggy compositions next to the bombastic synthesizers and the ability of the trio to come up with some tremendous interplays is often amazing, while Rafael Alfaro's vocals are clean and expressive.These tracks, and fortunately these occupy the major part of the album, will definitely reward the listener.Especially the second CD contains a couple of great long epics, much along the lines of good quality-Symphonic Rock.

''Entre seres y sus raices'' has its black and white side.The mediocre keyboard sound and the non-prog uninspiring compositions are a negative factor, but a listener with patience is sure to find some great musical pearls in here, full of keyboard flashes, interplays and nice atmospheres.Recommended overall, especially for fans of keyboard-based modern Progressive Rock.