CHERCÁN

The chercán is a very popular bird in Chile. It nests near houses and can always be seen around them, forming a kind of symbiosis with humans.

Chercán is also the name of a band here in my country, Chile, an experimental group with a very prog- influenced sound. Their influences include jazz fusion and avant-garde styles. They resemble many bands, but here I'm going to focus more on their chilean influences than the foreign ones. I can detect touches of Fulano, Fractal, and Akinetón Retard, along with a set of influences leaning more toward pop especially in the vocals, which sometimes remind me of Lucibel.

Chercán was formed in 2019 in Valdivia, Chile. Through their lyrics, the band aims to express the various concerns of its members: vocalist Martín Peña (guitar in 7 Colores), bassist Simón Catalán, guitarist Roberto Faúndez, saxophonist Matías Bahamondes, and drummer/percussionist Rodrigo González Mera. Their themes revolve around personal experiences, their relationship with nature and the environment, and the challenges of today's society.

It's hard to be a fellow countryman and criticize art especially progressive music in a country where there isn't much raw material, and few dare to attempt something like this. Not to mention how difficult it is to make music in Chile, where reggaeton and urban music are venerated. Rock let alone progressive rock feels like it comes from another planet. And if we do choose to listen to something, we often prefer it not to come from our own backyard. It's something idiosyncratic, and there's no time here to get into a deep social critique of Chile, which could easily fill several pages and multiple theses. The reality is that in Chile, this kind of music doesn't reach a popular level, and getting a project like this off the ground is extremely difficult.

That said, I hope I can say this without hurting any feelings: Chercán has made a very good and complex record, full of interesting passages. Unfortunately, it sometimes falls into repetition as if the album loops at certain points. In the middle of some songs, it can feel like the music is going in circles. But overall, it's a solid album. The fact that it's sung in Spanish and still sounds natural and fitting is an accomplishment in itself something rarely achieved outside of Argentine progressive rock, where the Spanish language doesn't clash with the musicality.

The album has wonderful production. Every instrument has its place, and the vocals are very well recorded and well delivered. Guest musicians like Benjamín Ruz on string arrangements and violins, Javiera González on viola, and Ariadna Kordovero on cello add extra color and beauty to the final result.

Behind the scenes, the work is equally impressive. Drums, guitars, and vocals were recorded at Estudio LeRock in Santiago by José Tomás Molina. The saxophone parts were recorded by Pueblo Obsoleto in Valdivia, while the bass was recorded by Simón Catalán himself in Valdivia. The string quartet was recorded by Benjamín Ruz and Eduardo Padilla at Estudios ZUR in Santiago, and the percussion by Rodrigo González Mera at Estudio El Pequén in Valdivia. Mixing was handled by Jorge Fortune at Telúrica Estudio in Coyhaique, and mastering was done by both Carlos Barros (known for work with Kalimba, Las Mentiras del Muro, Tiempos Paralelos, and 7 Colores) and Jorge Fortune (La Culpa, Quimera, Orate, Caen las hojas blancas).

The cover art deserves special recognition too, with its play of colors that seem to symbolize the plumage of the friendly chercán. The artwork was done by the artist Paulina Rosso.

In the end, Chercán is a great debut album. Despite its flaws, the record achieves what it set out to do. In my opinion, it may not be a masterpiece but it's certainly a strong ópera prima.

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