Private   Angulart : 3 track demo (CHI,2001)***

It's really hard for me describing Angulart's music with just 3 tracks. I think here they have a perfect balance between song and a progressive rock approach, with some portion of attention to the keyboards, combined with electric guitars and drums. I can at least say the group has a well balanced prog rock band sound here. It's not clear by listening to those tracks know in which direction the group could evolve ; it's still an open direction I can hear here ; this can either evolve to progpop, or more progressive work. My favourite track is  "Engendrando Ciegos". A fine demo !

http://www.angulart.cl/

Cantera Pr.                           Sarax : Ejución ****°

"Very convincing heavy progressive with great musicians and very professional production. Destined to become internationally known. Its style is King Crimson after having heard and enjoyed and adapted Ruins. John Zorn should listen to these fellows. They call their style 'experimental progressive rock'. One short moment of still very structured madness flows as attractively into more atmospheric but still experimental progressive rock guitar compositions of chamber music rock (- or RIO as lot of people prefer to call it-). This heavy and well composed chamber music is used more often. (It's a bit like Happy Family at times, but not often that heavy ; "Kovyankho" and for sure "Vertigo" are more very like Univers Zero ;- some of such songs have added modern classic piano-).

The whole concept is a musical translation of the last day before an execution. And it mostly works really like a movie with some violent fears and a feeling of imprisonment but at the same time with a pure musical liberation accompaniment. But even the chamber piano pieces can't take away the basic layer of very structured violence. I wondered how much was referring to real situations and how much fantasy was reflecting some existing situation somewhere or for sure some time in Chili, but the group had no perticular specifications in mind. All is musically so controlled that you can keep sit down relaxed enough to get the whole picture.

This music doesn't need an extra video clip I thought when I heard the last track. But then I realised there was one at the end. An amazingly powerful video convinced me that the music can be even stronger by added images, although it didn't need it at first. A very recommended product."

next release->

Private                                             Matraz : Tiempo (demo 2001)*****

-Radioshow review written before the official release :-

"If this item is not going to be recognised by some major progressive label soon, I'm a shoe ! This has wonderful symphonic piano, Spanish spoken, pleasant powerful vocals (like I heard only on Italian progressive before), with very good symphonic compositions, and with a Metal bass progression, fitting as a contrast, going even far beyond what's been made in the best seventies items. This electric metal bass really knows the skills, and is tightly followed up by electric guitars with incredible rhythm and melody changes. No neo-symphonic reconsideration here, but highly advanced perfectionism. Next composition starts and alternates with various metalophones and such, going over into more heavy (but still very composed) symphonic progressive territory once more. Second side starts with a nice electric guitar thrumming, into more melodic symphonic composition with the already mentioned convincing vocals, and sparse, but effective, synthesiser effects.  Last track starts as a challenging composition with a piano/guitars duel, to change surprisinginly back to the melodic Italian 70's progressive style, with even much more transformations to go to, like some part which could be like Spiral Architect, soon to close with quieter passages once more. Recommended !!"

used for airplay : "Amanecer", "Manana"         

Homepage www.matraz.cl & http://www.myspace.com/matrazband 

Info : http://www.mylodonrecords.com/html/matraz.htm     second album ->

Private          Huaika : Vida Llena (2000)***° (click picture for full size)

"Most progressive groups wants to distance themselves from any kind of popular as well as dance music. This professional group made a good album for BGM before, "Magica Olvidada" with serious Latin (Jazz) inspired independent music. But since this debut the group evolved to an even richer sound. The cd starts as Latin Fusion Rock Jazz. The middle part of the CD reminds me much of some of the Argentinian progressive groups from the seventies (like some Charlie Garcia's groups). Only a slight flavour of what can be regarded as Chilean (some instruments) is noticeable. This isn't danceable any more, but most interesting music from a group who probably gained experience by playing much live. This product might be liked by people from several different approaches without that it fits within any limited perspective. It's warm ( : the playing, the brass wind instruments, with acoustic guitar and drums), it has good rhythm, it is full and rich, and the musicians play up to its borders. Not easy to get a grip on easily from a progressive point of view, but it is very easy to like. When in last half some more exotic (Latin) tracks are added, confusion might be big to categorize, but it' is too enjoyable to bother about that. Last track goes into progressive Jazz Rock Fusion teritory, giving this product a convincing conclusion."

used for airplay : "Sangre del Indio", "La Colmena", "Canción dormida", "Nguillatún"

Biography at http://www.huaika.scd.cl/ Contact at eloy@manquehue.net

Review of first release at http://www.copesa.cl/subte/discos/disc82.html

Article at http://www.tercera.cl/diario/1998/07/03/62.html

Private            Eliomis : The Purple Schizoid Fly ***°°

"Some weirdness of Magma, indeed, but performed with more easy instruments like electronic synths. However this is done into several layers that a certain unearthly complexity is arranged without loosing the rock feeling by the drum (or rhythmbox ?) and bass rhythm. The weirdness and complexity is mostly in the high tones. There's a truth in the title of this album which gives those synths indeed something of a "buzzy" bee. With this in fact basic instrumentation the group creates a very psychedelic sound. Without any neo-feeling, but highly original like nothing much I heard before. The same fundament could have had much more poor effect, but the composer (-I swore at first it was at least a duo or trio playing-) has so much talent the he's able to make the music breath and brood. But give the same musician a few extra more complex equipment, like a VC3 or a moog and a mellotron, and add there just a few more instruments (- or at least a real drummer-) and there is chance there will be made new classics (if he didn't do so in some tracks already). There is at least some potential to be leaded into that direction. In spite of making music with a limited range like with these instruments the final result is really great, as an atmospheric trip on a cyber drug injection. And in several tracks it goes even far beyond the most psychedelic moments of the Finnish group Circle. Recommended for the mindexpanding listener.

used for airplay : "Fatal Harmony", "Claustro", "The Dance of the Viper", "Break Head"

Eliomis (2001)?

"This product has more varied composition compared to the trips of the album I reviewed here above. It's almost composed but still improvised progressive rock. Nice electric guitar and added synth and more piano. Although the arrangements of the drumming parts are extremely well done (-Is all really live arrangement ? I can hardly believe this-), within this kind of compositions, the rhythm box can not be so completely satisfying on all tracks. In fact I shouldn't mind so much, because the arrangements are still true and honest progressive. If even the same rhythmical tones and notes were replaced by a real drum it would only have been more perfect. But just therefore I won't let myself allow to give an opinion for grading this album. From the two last tracks of the album my favorite track is "Lodo", a space rock trip. It is followed by a similar track "Moon 9"."

More information about Eliomis you can find attached in the next text file.

Web page at http://www.eliomis.cl

Review : http://www.gepr.net/ea.html#ELIOMIS

Contact at eliomis@mail.com

I heard a few other releases of Eliomis. I must also warn the listener Eliomis often covers dangerous teritory, for using programmed mixing. This might not always make it easy to apreciate everything he makes. The "Purple Scizoid Fly" is for me at least exceptional, succesful and different because of the eggagerations of various elements. Latest good news is that Cristan now is working with a drummer and extra keyboard player. Good luck!!

Private                                                     Exsimio (1999)***°

"Like Tryo, Exsimio is very composed heavy guitar rock but with much more rhythm changes. The rhythm section is very advanced. Electric bass (reminding at times at Primus) is also incredible ! It often is duelling with the rhythm. At first hearing I was only surprised by the later tracks, but the overall section is extremely good over the whole line, and the individual talents are undoubtable. The group says thet were influenced by King Crimson. Recommended to those who like professional advanced guitar rock playing."

Info & soundfiles: http://www.mylodonrecords.com/html/exsimio.htm

Homepage at www.exsimio.cl/ Contact : info@exsimio.cl  or exsimio@scd.cl

Reviews at http://www.rockaxis.com/cd2.php?cd_id=297&cat=CD_V&UID=20010717132526

& http://www.modomusica.com/lizard/pagine/exsimio.html

German review :http://www.babyblaue-seiten.de/album_2547.html

Spanish review : http://www.dlsi.ua.es/~inesta/Prog/LCDM/Discos/exsimio_exsimio.html

Spanish interview : http://www.musica.cl/notas2/exsimio.htm

Private                                  Daltonia : Observador de un universo (1999)***

This is a dark symphonic theatre poetry concept. It has more dark symphonic elements with a few acoustic parts. Perhaps one can notice an aproach where groups like Van der Graaf Generator comes in mind.  The conceptual work speaks -if I understood well- about the reality of the humanity and the man's place in it, in a filmic way. The symphonic track "Es hora?", used variations of "Black Light" by Steve Hackett executed with Spanish guitar. Closing track "Observer of the Universe II " shows the leitmotiv of the work in an instrumental version.

Info : http://www.mylodonrecords.com/html/daltonia.htm

Review : http://www.arproch.cl/observador_in.htm

Small review : http://www.shroomangel.com/shroom/rs5.asp

(Spanish) review at http://www.rockprogressivo.com.br/canais/rev/daltonia.htm

Small review (with soundfiles):http://www.rocksymphony.com/detalhes_disco.asp?cd=64

More information about Daltonia you can find attached at the next text file.

Private                                                  Cangrejo : Parentesis (2003)***

I was glad to see 3 three tracks recorded in 1997 on the demo appear on this first official album : the highly original "La Mittad de Ti", part 2 from "Song of the trip", and "Fuchsia". All other contributions were recorded more recently, between 2001-2002.

The original experimental fusion-rock seems to have been mixed now with an easy and warm sounding canto rock style (on "La Vejez"), or is performed as a more sweet canto fusion rock (on "Animal Transparante"), while "Brujula" sounds more Latin flavoured. We also have "Riff del Affghelito", which is the only track on the album with a mixed DJ sound of very good breakbeat, mixed with heavy rock / experimental / Latin folk, a track which also stands out, as a fine contrasting mixture of many ideas.  All other tracks mix in a fusing way song as Latin Canto, with fusion, and poprock elements. The older tracks are a bit more quiet and derived from more complex musical ideas. Overall the album is rewarding if not distracted too much by the few contrasting differently appealing ideas. Also the textual parts share importance.

Web page (with sound files) at at www.cangrejo.scd.cl 

More information about Cangrejo attached on  text file. Contact : joseci@rdc.cl

NEW PROGRESSIVE ITEMS FROM CHILE :

early (not checked) reviews done for my radioshow PVHF : 

Akineton Retard (2x), Angulart, Cangrejo (2x), Daltonia, Dwalin, Eliomis (2x),

Experimental, Exsimio, Huaika, Matraz (2x), Sarax (2x), Skipsapiens, Tryo

Private (demo)                                     Dwalin : The Green Book (1999?)*°°

"Dwalins groups name is taken from a personage from "the Gentleman of the Ring" by Tolkien). Musically this is melodic symphonic hard rock-pop with references to Marillion, Rush,etc.. or more seventies bands and music. The music is sung in English. The disc is privately produced. Hassard : voice,guitar, sandynette (a self constructed wind instrument -hardly noticeable-), Juan Eduardo Rodriguez : keyboards, Omar & Aranda Rodrigo : guitar. Used for airplay : "Faceless" 10 min. The group exist since 1990. Aranda left the group now."

(Spanish) info : http://www.watcher.cl/bandas/dwalin.html

Review : http://www.arproch.cl/green_in.htm

Contact : je-rodriguez@USA.net or jer@mail.duke.edu

Private                                          Experimental : demo (2001?)**

"For me this was a product difficult to categorize again, but I tried.  The progressive feel in it, is something like a 90's version of Steve Hackett or Andy Sommers, with a light melodic and more linear guitar sound, but at some tracks also with some explorations à la Robert Fripp. In some way it's a more monothematic version of 70's prog rock without the textured denseness being used those days. Where the guitar here sound more trance progressive, the drums and bass are either trance friendly, or slightly funky. The result is a fine but light progressive music. - (P.S. This demo version contained only 5 tracks of the Full album).-"

Skipsapiens (unreleased at the time of the review)***°

"Kraftwerk's Electric Tropical Café and into very varied 3-dimentional soundscapes of new electronica. Recommended art-electro, suitable as well for DJ purposes, to chill out as to listen to at home. A fine fluently flowing concept, with constantly changing drums and bass and minimal sound. This could have been a high quality release from a label like Sub Rosa. I know it would be perfect for some drum and bass labels, but I'm not so aware of these labels and this area to specify this product better. I only recognised its quality."

Remark afterwards : I recommended the music to Lowlands in Belgium, and they agreed immediatly to release it at their sub label U-cover. Unfortunately I never sent a printed copy afterwards, but here you can see here its final cover.

Web page at http://www.angelfire.com/nt/ssapiens/

Release of this item (since end of september 2001) at with sound files at

http://www.u-cover.com/u-cover/template.php?data=u-cover010&detail=yes

More electronic bands you can find at www.ojodeapolo.cl

Private                                                 Tryo : Crudo (1998) ***'

"The CD starts with profesionally composed rock with two guitars, bass guitar and drums, with an almost RIO-like composition, as a bit more tempered, but much more "rock"-ing Ruins, reminding me at some moments of some guitar rock heros like Ted Nugent.  If you play the first 6 tracks loud you can really feel the live energy.  Then very surprisingly, the CD changes into a beautiful acoustic almost flamenco guitar track, called "Nocturno", with additonal cello. The rest of the tracks are moody accoustic studio chamber music rock."

used for airplay : "Fuenteovejuna", "Viento de Otono", "Nueva Epoca", "Hnocturno", "Danza"

Home page at http://www.tryo.scd.cl/ (with sound files)

and an English page at http://web.unete.cl/~arproch/tryo_in.htm

Review in Spanish at http://www.geocities.com/subterranea_progmusic/tryo.htm

Interview in English at http://progressive-pages.de/interview/bands/tryo.htm

Contact group : gherrera@netline.cl

Musea Rec. Matraz : Gritaré (2004)**°°

"While Matraz earlier album was a big surprise to me, compared to the adventurous combinations of it, I was disappointed with the first two tracks, because there I noticed the acceptance of the symphonic metal genre, with also a more melodic approach. I wondered if the fundament has partly moved elsewhere, but listening to the whole album a couple of times, I noticed it was still there. The band now also has a female vocalist, which is beautiful ; it gives some songs fine Latin touches. Elsewhere she’s rocking or sometimes almost screaming in the high registers. With the third track, “REM”, and with everything which came after that, the music worked for me. Great guitars on “Sangra Derramada”! It’s a fine combination of piano with instrumental progressive rock and song orientation. I even noticed, like in “Condor” something of a fusion style in keyboards and bass. The last track is another convincing 18’33” minute long heavy symphonic rock track. Here we have female as well as male vocals. That track is a nice progression to what happened on the first album. Except for the 2 first tracks, which I will personally skip, still a really great album !"

Info : http://www.mylodonrecords.com/html/matraz.htm

Review : http://www.proGGnosis.com/MUSIC_DBCDInfo.asp?txtCDID=11882

Mylodon Rec.Akinetón Retard : 21 Canapés (2003)****

"Wow. This band moved on pretty well, and developed their earlier style even further, and also, opened up even newer perspectives! This is not just a development of ideas from various influences, but seems to follow its own inner growth pattern. Partly we hear a unique stylistic combination of jazzrock with a kind of Rock-In-Opposition vibe, or better let’s say like chamber music. A few times we hear the beautiful voice of a female singer. Further on we have a lot of, mostly short tracks in between, of intuitive experimentations in sounds, and connected with them, melodies, fitting together because there’s a human touch that keeps these all together in such an acceptable way, one hardly notice some of these ideas might have been pretty avant-garde."

Info : www.akineton.cl & http://www.gepr.net/AKINETONRETARD

Spanish review : http://www.rockaxis.com/cd2.php?cd_id=1001&cat=CD_V

Italian review : http://www.agarthaprog.com/?oggi=04/01/2004

Interview (in Spanish) : http://www.progresiva70s.com/entrevista_akineton.htm

Lizard                Akinetón Retard (2001)***°

-early description used for the radioshow : -               

This is "Chamber Music Rock"/RIO on an improvisational rhythm, and with a skunk (ska/punk fusion) flavor. You can say there is some jazz element with a progressive approach. This jazz element can be quiet funky jazz, or more often a smooth jazzy rhythm, which is perhaps unusual for a RIO related band in this form. "Primogenia Satiria" has plenty of experiment.  "Blues on Re" has a more jazzy  structure. "Gansos, patos y Gallinas" has mixed elements of rock, jazz and chamber Music composition. On the last two tracks the sax plays almost eastern/klezmer while the bass drives nicely,  and the guitar rocks more at the background. Very good. Recommended."

Label at http://www.modomusica.it/lizard/ with the group's page at

http://www.modomusica.it/lizard/pagine/akinetonretard.html

A page in Spanish at at http://www.geocities.com/subterranea_progmusic/akineton.htm

Spanish reviews at www.rockaxis.com/cd2.php?cd_id=3&cat=CD_V

More information (biography) about Akinetón Retard (Sp/Eng.)

Contact : pulio@hotmail.com  next album ->

Private Cangrejo : Demo (1997) ***°  

Please look at the biography first to give an idea of the background of the group.

-early radioshow description of songs on demo :-

"* "Crab" almost puzzled me, with its very quickly varied rhythmical foundations (Latin, Jazz, Jazzrock, free form ,rock,..?), as if the crab gave its perception of all the villages in Chili while moving sidewards.

* "Song for the trip" ("Cancion para el Viaje") as a story of loneliness, sung by female voice, first with ghostly instrumentation, then with more clear thumbpiano accompaniment. The text derives from Josie Tamarin, a Peruvian shaman, and is about the magical battle with death; (this work was also "animated" on digital video by Cecilia Garcia). It has a tense aerial atmosphere. 13 min.

* "Dinosours"("Dinosourius Grises") builds up a 'free music' tension, with trumpets & Tibetan horns, with other experimental acoustic music sounds build around it. Very visionary in sound.

* The more "normal" Latin folk song "Fuchsia" is a beautiful change. It's as inspored as the rest. A shame I can't understand the text. It was based upon "Loose verses", from N.Parra- 4 min

* "Half of you" ("La Mitad de ti") is sung with the same beauty, here accompanied by Indo- ethnic instrumentation, combined with unusual combinations of instruments. Then a Latin rhythm comes in, which also works well with all the previous ideas. 6 min

* "Immobile (live)" is progressive rock (with a great electric guitar solo) with some jazzpoprock rhythm structure, still song-based."

-second perception for a more recent radioshow :-

privateCangrejo : demo (1997) ***

"Having heard before, the very promising demo, with "Cangrejo", a well produced modern and varied fusion track with lots of ideas and tempo changes, and experimental sound textures with on the top-layer, a dark emotional loner song from "Song for the trip/Cancion para el Viaje"), with "Dinosaurs/Dinosaurios grises", a quiet free jazz experiment, a beautiful canto with female voice, "Fuchsia", and the very good "La Mita De Ti/The Half of you" a canto with a somewhat experimental world instrumentation (thumb piano with sitar and hand percussion, echoed effects), with somewhat contemporary orchestrations (string and some brass and electronic sounds), and the more modern heavy pop fusion rock track "Immobile (live)", I was very curious about the first official release."

official release ->

Mylodon Rec.         Sarax : 570.Kythera (CHI,2004)***'

"Sarax improved in its style to give a good consistent and pleasant sound. This listens like a prog rock opera with some metal guitars and influences now and then, but always with calm enough approach to get you into the musical story. The complete score of it has been added in English in the booklet."

Web site at http://www63.pair.com/membrana/index.html & http://sites.netscape.net/SaraxChile

and http://www.mylodonrecords.com/html/sarax.htm

Info on second release :http://www63.pair.com/membrana/570kytheraeng.html

with the story in Spanish : http://www63.pair.com/membrana/570historia.html

General info : www.sarax.net & http://www63.pair.com/membrana/saraxbio.html

E-mail : saraxchile@yahoo.com

SEE ALSO REISSUES &

MORE RECENT GROUPS REVIEW PAGE->

Final Playlist with most of these items at next attached txt-file with Playlist.

Please go back to the page about Chilean progressive music.

All links updated 2004-04-04

Do you know another interesting Chilean progressive music item ? Please E-mail me.

Other Review Pages of Latin American progressive :

review page of new progressive music in Brazil,

review page of new progressive music in Venezuela

go back to Latin America index

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