LIBER SECUNDUS

Having a Brazilian wife and being a progressive rock lover to the bone I just had to try some Brazilian prog-rock bands. Not knowing where to start I just began surfing the web and ended up at www.rockprogressivo.com.br and www.rocksymphony.com.br

After reading some reviews on those sites and of course on www.progarchives.com I decided to kick of with Aether (also known as the Brazilian Camel) and Index. Wow! What a way to start! I liked Aether better at the beginning probably because it sounded more familiar, (I almost have all Camel albums) but later on my preference switched to Index! Progressive rock is probably one of the smaller musical genres represented in Brazil, but the Brazilian progressive bands are musically just as great as any North American or British prog-rock band, so lets get out there and give some of those great Brazilian musicians a chance!

Index first self titled album was merely an instrumental piece. Their second album, Liber Secundus, contains vocals as well. Probably the vocals could be better, but the Portuguese language sounds magnificent and perfectly matches the music. On their third album Index would return to their instrumental basis again which I personally find somewhat a petty. Even though the vocals could be better Liber Secundus is my favorite Index album.

If you are not familiar with any Brazilian progressive music yet Aether, Index and Tempus Fugit are probably the best bands to start with!

"Liber Secundus" is the pretty second album by Brazilian band Index. Formed by guitarist Jones Junior after his venture in the first Quaterna Requiem line-up, Index creates a solid symphonic style very much in parallel with compatriot acts Tempus Fugit and Dogma, although bearing a stronger sound and developing more robust compositions. While not as accomplished as their follower "Identidade", which would eventually become one of the most beautiful South American prog albums for the year 2005, "Liber Secundus" is also a very effective symphonic effort that should be enjoyed by any serious collector. Main references are classic Camel and Yes, bearing a melodic sensibility closer to the golden era of prog than to neo-prog. The instrumental opener 'Lágrima' starts with a piano solo section - then, when the whoel ensemble joins in, the piano input continues to be the paver of the road. The addition of female chanting in places adds color to the sonic tapestry that is being fluidly laid down. Nine minutes of pure typical symphonic rock splendor. The next two tracks 'Portoes de Gaza' and 'Fim da Floresta' are sung: fortunately, since none of the musicians has a great talent for vocal interventions, the instrumental portions are more central and abundant. These two numbers are less epic but more energetic than the opener, which allows the band to explore their rockier facet with confidence and skill. 'Algemas de Cristal' is a brief classical guitar solo adorned by harmonica: the bucolic ambience is well done, and maybe it wouldn't have mattered if the track had been reasonably longer, but again, things are as they are, aren't they? The last three tracks comprise the album's better half. All three of them retake the splendor of the opener and take it to another level. 'Guernica em Nova York' kicks off with a 'Heart of the Sunrise'-meets- 'Siberian Khatru' motif, in which the guitar and the bass display a joyful duel while the drums and the organ set a solid pace. The sung section slows things down a bit, in a more Camelesque way, but it is not languid at all. Gradually, almost unnoticeably, the motif builds up an energy that ultimately brings the closing reprise of the intro portion. A definite highlight, indeed. 'Instantes' is more focused on the Camel thing, with a vivacious feel that stays consistent all throughout its 8- minute span. Finally, 'Novella', the other highlight, combines the majesty of 'Lágrima' and the epic vibration of 'Guernica': its 13 ¾ minute duration passes by unadverted while the listener allows himself to be transported to the realms of his own spirit. A very proper closure for a very beautiful symphonic prog album from Brazil. Index is a band that we should pay more attention to.

This is a very good album released by "Index", a(nother) Brazilian band with little exposure.

If you like beautiful melodies, powerful and convincing guitar breaks, aerial synths and keys: this will be a delight to your ears (as it was for mine). The whole of this long album is pure charm, poetry, and dynamics.

Most of the songs are rather on the long side, but the short and delicate "Algemas de Cristal" has its own merit as well. But it is of course during the longest parts that the band is reaching his whole potential. As such, "Guernica Em Nova York" is a marvel of a symphonic piece with fine mellotron and an incredible electric guitar finale. Great track, really.

The music from this band is not revolutionary, but very harmonious and truly symphonic. No need to tell you that I quite like it. The epic and closing track "Novella" is just a summary of what has preceded. It is an excellent manner to finish this fine and very pleasant work.

Four stars.

I found out about Index with their third album Identidade. And I was quite impressed by their musical prowness and great songwriting. So much it became one of my favorite albums of last year. It was only natural that I had to find their earlier releases sooner or later. And I did with this Liber Secundus, their sophmore CD. the band of ex Quaterna Requiem guitarrist Jones Junior did not let me down: 24 carta symphonic prog in the vein of 70´s classic bands like Camel. Renaissance and Focus at their best. Unfortunatly this CD is marred by some mediocre, forced, vocals. Their forte is always instrumental prog.

Not that the band members blow it, but clearly, they should have recruited a real vocalist instead of handling the lead vocals themselves. Ok, they also had the help fo female background singers, but in the end it only enhanced how far behind are the lead vocals compared to everything else in the record. But let´s be fair: the songs are great, the playing is superb and the arrangements are tasteful and varied. In the end the positive side of this CD is much bigger than to the few negative ones (all related to... well, you know which).

It is no surprise that, to me at least, the best tracks are the instrumentals: the opener Lagrima (featuring a nice female wordless singing), the short, beautiful and delicate guitar and harmonica duo of Algemas de Cristal and the epic closer Novella. The remaining tracks are also very good, displaying Jones emotional guitar solos and licks, Otaviano Kury´s symphonic, vintage sounding keyboards, Ronaldo Schenato´s fluid bass lines and Leonardo Reis versatile drumming. Production is quite good.

In the and I think that if this album was totally instrumental I´d easily give it a five star rating. Still, after some spins I could go past the weak vocals and face the fact that even those non instrumentals are also excellent tunes themselves, all very well performed by people who knows how to deliver some great, complex and beautiful symphonic prog without losing sight of the melodic trait that only the best can do.

Final rating: somewhere between 4 and 4,5 stars. Highly recommended.

Brazil's Index wheel out a capable and enjoyable collection of symphonic prog compositions on Liber Secundus, their second album. Otaviano Kury is particularly adept on keyboards, drawing on the gentler classic prog keyboardists like Tony Banks or Peter Bardens. Although, as others have pointed out, the vocals aren't necessarily up to much (though I don't think they're outright inept to the point where the album is ruined), wisely the band focus on instrumental performances, which is their true strength. Reminding me mostly of the likes of Camel, the band present a gentle, melodic form of symphonic prog which is soothing and beautiful without becoming trite or corny.