Al filo del abismo (Praxis, 1987)

This Mexican band released their only album in 1987. Originally called "La eternidad de lo efímero", this instrumental work was re-issued on CD seven years later by Italian label Mellow Records with a different title, simply "Praxis". Useful to know, one of the members of Praxis comes fron the Mexican well known act Iconoclasta (also present in this blog). "Al filo del abismo" is the opening track, a very lively and intriguing example of symphonic prog, even with a 80s instrumentation. 

I must admit the cover art is as intricated as most of the music inside.

At first sight, the listener is overwhelmed by the instrumental skills of the band and especially by the keyboard / guitar plots, so swift and dazzling. A further  examination will reveal the brilliant work of the rythm section and the clever exploitation of the main theme. If it is true that a different keyboard set would have improved the general effect of this song (and album), but it is also true that each era has its own sounds and some would consider that as a further reason to rediscover this forgotten work.

Moving Universe (Cast, 1999)

No doubt Cast are one of the best progressive rock acts from outside Europe (and even more than this). This song comes from the album "Imaginary Window" and begins with a gentle still lively intro, soon evolving into a Jethro Tull-like giga. The flute plays a central role in this song, even if, as usual with the band, all the instruments play as one and build up a full-bodied kind of sound.

"Imaginary Window" is  another pearl from the huge discography of Cast.

 

In fact, the rythm, the tempo and the leading instrument of "Moving Universe" constantly change, perfectly matching with the title. Francisco Hernandez and his electric guitar are brilliant, and so is the rythm section. The keyboards and flute interplays are among the highlights of this instrumental, so that I actually couldn't find a weak moment all along the song. This is prog rock at its best, a symphonic vertigo I recommend to you all.

Delirium (Crónico, 2007)

What a pleasure to introduce this Mexican band to my readers! "Delirium" is the almost title track of Cronico's only album to date "Delirium Room", and maybe the most interesting one. The lyrics are in Spanish (some songs from this CD are in English) and Lizbeth Mendizabal actually has a very original voice. The mood and tempo change many times during the song, including many instrumental interplays involving Daniel Koppen's keyboards and Gabriel Eguiluz's guitars.

IMHO, one of the best prog albums from Mexico in the new Century.

The sound is specially rich, as Lizbeth plays additional Keys to enhance it. The traditional progressive features are all there, but the band add some arcane vocal harmonies and a perfect mix of acoustic and electric instruments to the big picture. There is an abiding tension in "Delirium" that matches with the title and never let the song get trivial or redundant. A pleasure to my ears, and I hope to yours too.

Origins / Under The Wheel / Mechanical Landscape I (Códice, 1999)

I won't say once again how many just-one-album bands I discovered and apreciated during the years, as you'll find most of them in my blog. Better spend my space here talking of Códice and their beautiful symphonic double CD titled "Alba y Ocaso" ("Dawn and Dusk" in English). It's a remarkable example of classically driven prog rock from Mexico, a Country featuring so many good and underrated bands.

"Alba y Ocaso" spans over some 2 hours of music.

Not only this track has got three titles, but it also belongs to a longer suite called Iconos that isn't listed ont the original CD. Actually, this triple-titled song is Heaven for any progfan: tempo changes, beautiful acoustic sections between electric ones, interesting plots and so on. Last but not least, these musicians know how to play very well. That's why I recommend to your attention the entire album.

Cuando la música era espiritual y no física o el Adivino del último periodo de paz (Iconoclasta, 1987)

No doubt this is one of the longest titles a prog song ever had. You could translate this with "When the music was spiritual, not physical or the Seer of the last period of peace", so that you can easily guess this is not a love song. It's the opening track of the "Soliloquio" album by Mexican band Iconoclasta and surely is an unusual one. This doesn't mean that "Cuando..." is a weird and experimental song, just for the connoisseurs. Not at all, in fact.

If you think this song title is weird, what about the album art?

There is a fully enjoyable melody and a beautiful arrangement, more peaceful than usual for Iconoclasta. Being an instrumental intro, the band leaves to the listeners any further interpretations, even if such a sunny, catchy theme clearly depicts the utopian "last period of peace" the title suggests and the visions of that mysterious Seer. All in all, I like the song and the gentle but never obvious way it flows away, just like a childish tune or a village fair... but with a strange twist. Sometimes this is the kind of music you need to think over the gravest subjects. Incredible, maybe, but true.

Apocalipsis (Caja de Pandora, 1991)

This is one of the most joyful and dynamic album opening tracks I've ever listened to. A rythm-based instrumental from Mexico, by a one-CD only band called "Caja de Pandora" that really sounds like opening up a Pandora's musical box! Basically, the track goes through five different phases, despite its scarcely 4 minutes of length: a classical intro, a lively dance, a hypnotic rythm,a guitar solo and finally the first theme reprise.

It took a long time to release this album. The sessions began in 1981,

the CD was issued only in 1991, then in 1997 with bonus tracks.

Nothing completely new, maybe, but surely a well assorted display of latin prog rock, not so far from Spanish and Italian models, even if this one is likely to be a more essential and less intricate piece of music. But you hear the potential in it, the inner energy coming out and running down your spine like a colourful tsunami. This is the sunny side of prog. So Welcome to Mexico, my friends!

Continuum (Govea, 2009)

A powerful trio from Mexico, Govea are graced by keyboardist Salvador Govea's classically inspired compositions. This "Continuun" is taken from the band's first album ("Danza urbana") and perfectly shows how Govea successfully tried to merge classical measures and jazzy improvisations. The final result is not far from the Italian prog style, and well framed into the symphonic rock and vintage '70s wave. "Continuum" is an instrumental track, based on a brilliant theme and going through some original rythmic variations.

"Danza urbana" was Govea's debut album.

That's why I think you won't be surprised to know that the drummer of this trio is Victor Baldovinos, a member of the jazz-prog act Iconoclasta. The third musician, bassist Luis Arturo Guerrero, works very hard to add some more agitation to the big picture. The only word I found to describe such a process is shaken melody. But music is more important than words...

El útimo sueño de Paganini (Galie, 1981)

Mexico has a special place in prog rock history: not only this Country gave birth to many good bands and musicians during the years, but this blossoming was more flushing in the '80s, while the rest of the world was (prematurely) pronouncing dead our favourite genre. Galie are among this backbeat generation of proggers, keeping the good old music alive. Their songs are plain, melodic and enthralling instrumental pieces, mixing melancholy and symphonic moods.

This was the first of a series of four self-titled albums.

This one, for example, has a strong classical inspiration (its title means "Last Paganini's Dream") and is reminiscent of some Italian prog songs from the '70s and  of Wakeman's touch. And I think there is a scent of Focus too. It features a beautiful theme and a sparkling series of variations in a naive but convincing succession of crescendos and largos. Probably a simple way to go progging, and IMHO a charming one.

The North (Cast, 1996)

The huge discography of Cast includes so many prog pearls that it's difficult to choose one of them for my blog (but it's not the first one and it won't be the last). "The North" is a beautiful two part suite taken from the album "Beyond Reality", pretty much in neo-prog style, very well written and performed, I daresay. The two sections are titled "Northern Place" and "All The Way from Nowhere", and really begin with a Northern, rather cold mood, soon evolving into an up tempo track, and there's where we find the warmest soul of Cast.

"Beyond Reality" was the 6th studio album by Cast.

As usual, the sound is a European one, but the fire inside the song likely comes from Latin America. Some od the keyboard / guitar interplays are stunning, and please look at all those tempo changes! And what about that devilish instrumental finale? Definitely, one of the best bands in their genre, and one of the best set up tracks of their career.

Reminiscencias de un mundo sin futuro (Iconoclasta, 1985)

These Mexican guys are now pretty well known and appreciated worldwide and they actually deserve that. "Reminiscencias de un mundo sin futuro" (meaning in English "Memories of a World without Future"), comes from their second album "Reminiscencias" (that is "Memories") and is a seven parts and 18 miunutes suite. Its intricated interplays, its abundance of moods and changes make this track something like a compendium of many prog rock different styles. So, you'll find here synphonic passages, slightly jazz improvisations, acoustic and lunar interludes, hints of Genesis and ELP, but also original choral arrangements and a pinch of Italian prog.

A beautiful album, including our excellent suite.

Nonetheless, this epic is perfectly balanced and surely has its own character, marked by beautiful guitars driving the music, a light but effective keyboards background, a recurring theme and also a tasteful architecture. The apocalyptic subject of the song suggests some dramatic passages, but there's a firm sense of measure everywhere and this is the last (but not least) credit I'm happy to assign to this band's music.

Initiation (Cast, 1997)

Cast is not only the best known Mexican prog band, but also a long lasting and prolific one. This instrumental "Initiation", the opening track from "Angels and Demons" perfectly explains the reasons of their durable success. I rarely listened to such a strong, vibrant and colourful intro, some 8 minutes of classical and intricated plots where all the instruments compete in a bombastic musical race. I'd like to point out some of the song best features.

Cast released "Angels And Demons" in 1997.

First things first: the drum intro. It's a great work by Antonio Bringas, who dictates broken rhythms and provides the hooks on which the keyboards hang up their main riff. This is another good point: Luis Alfonso Vidales' fingers fly on the keyboards and his style is reminiscent of Tony Banks'... not a deadly sin, after all. Last, some excellent guitar solos provided by Francisco Hernandez Reyes, giving a passionate melody and a deeper soul to the track. So, if you like prog as it used to be and maybe should always be, this track is for you.