Abismo Próximo (Canarios, 1974)

This "Segunda Transmigración" ("Second Transmigration") from the album "Ciclos" is another pearl by Canarios (or Los Canarios, as they were credited elsewhere). The four compositions in this double LP re-write in a very eclectic way Vivaldi's Four Seasons (you'll find more in my blog). Opera, rock, improvisation, poetry... you'll find almost everything here. The suite is divided into seven movements, each one adding a different, special mood to the track. Vivaldi's themes are split and re-arranged along with original compositions and clever variations.

On vinyl, four suites filled each side of "Ciclos" double album.

The opera-inspired harmonies and the flushing keyboard works come interspersed by acoustic bridges and even by some Spanish folk hints. There are so many faces to this song I'm afraid I'll never be able to describe it, so you'll have to listen to that if you really want to make up your mind about such a suite. I hope you won't regret the time you'll spend there.

Paraiso remoto (Canarios, 1974)

This is the first installment of Canario's "Ciclos", based on Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" and released in 1974. This first part (or primera transmigración) of the Spanish band's masterpiece is a 16 minute suite in six movements and starts with a long series of effects finally introducing a very inusual melody sung by a female voice and called grito primario (primary  scream). Then, Vivaldi's Spring main theme comes in in a beautiful electric version with guitars, keys and drums weaving their sounds. Canarios perfectly represent the festive mood of the Italian composer's masterpiece.

The cover artwork of "Ciclos", no doubt one of the most known

Spanish prog-rock albums.

After this classic cover, Rudmini Sukmawati's soprano voice comes back with a stunning and theatrical performance, followed by the rest of Vivaldi's Spring theme, initially played by classical instruments, then by electric ones with some pleasant variations. This epic definitely proves how charming the classical-rock fusion can be when done with pure and unaffected joy. The joy of playing music and, of course, the joy of enjoying it.