QUÁSAR

— First review of this album —

Quásar bring out a bold proposition with this debut of theirs, and not in spite of, but rather because of its being so classic sounding. You have to dare, and they did. No production design specifically aiming to render a "vintage" feel. Just the guys and their instruments projecting an unmasked, authentic vibe made of moogs, axes, bass & cymbals through the pristine clarity of a modern studio. And melodies not only flow unstopably, but they are truly memorable. After a couple of minutes, or so, the next thing you know is that you are embarked in their cosmic journey, together with birds singing, synth washes, and who knows what else.

For starters, we are treated with the sweetness of a classical nylon-string guitar styling discret figures on the synths increasing density. After that, almost everything one can desire from a Symphonic rock album takes place in turn. First come the vocals, insinuated by a repetitive syncopated entry, giving way to a marvellous cadence made of strategically robbed beats, and accents showing up where one doesn't expect, but they always had to be. That first track is rounded with more deliciously dreamy classical guitar and full-blown synths retrieving the initial figures of the vocal cadence.

Track 2 features prominently the melodic power of the electric guitar. Trust me, no matter how much you can turn up the volume, it will never be enough. Track 4, El Rumor del Bosque, probably reaches the most perfect blend of every element in the band, all given to an accordingly perfect melody.

Approaching the middle of the album, I was thinking of a rating surpasing the four stars, but, for how much? Then I had my encounter with Track 5, Código Quásar, and that sent me all the way through to reach the masterpiece status. Simple in principle, indescribable in the end. Starting up from an elementary telegraphic beat, they go for an astonishing number of variations in metrics, and in every possible sense you may think for the word "texture", pushing things from quiet to extra-loud, from simple to ultra-complex, and from utterly transparent to impenetrably dense. My favorite track, no doubt in my mind about it.

And from there on, one cannot stop listening with wide open eyes, even for a minute. Don't miss it.

More info: https://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=134853