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Boomer y El Sindicato de la Danza - Andanzas [2000]

Sería cómodo clasificar este disco en alguna etiqueta común. Aquí hay hip-hop y reggae, principalmente, pero a medida que avanzan las canciones incluso lo de ragamuffin parece limitado. Es tal la diversidad de timbres y voces invitadas a este álbum, que es mejor dejar que corra sin esforzarse por sacar demasiadas conclusiones. Es la cantidad de ideas aplicadas, lo que finalmente convierte a Andanzas en un disco, sobre todo, estimulante; capaz, también, de excepcional inteligencia para combinar la agudeza verbal de un rap compuesto en La Pincoya, la cadencia de un soul nocturno (”Inspiración”), las variaciones rítmicas del reggae, y la calidez del funk (aportado casi siempre por la guitarra eléctrica del ex Tetas, Cristián Moraga). Entre las angustiantes reflexiones sobre la vida más pobre y los saludos universales al ritmo bajo el sol, Boomer construye canciones honestas sobre aquello que lo motiva, sea la noble causa de la paz mundial (”Guerra”) o los beneficios terapéuticos de una hierba aquí identificada como “Jachí”. Parece ser Raúl Matas la voz sampleada que da inicio al tema “Basta la pasta”. Ya el delirio de esa cita justifica la atención a uno de los pocos discos atrevidos publicados este año en Chile.

Review hecho por Marisol García C.

Tracklist

01. Boomerang
02. Sindicato
03. Pistolero
04. Natty Dread
05. Politiquero
06. Quédate Aquí
07. Inspiración
08. Basta La Pasta
09. Jachí
10. Escucha esta Música
11. Money
12. Balabalazos
13. Selassie
14. Respeto
15. Guerra
16. Mensaje
17. Todo Pasa
18. Tomando El Mando

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Opeth - Watershed [2008]

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“It’s our new record, we think it’s pretty good. We hope you’ll like it.”

So Mikael Akerfeldt introduces Watershed, surrounded by a 5.1 system in a very comfortable studio. The first spin of a new Opeth album doesn’t get much better than this, as we settle in for an hour of new Opethian goodness. Having only had three days to absorb the new record, a more comprehensive review from UM will be coming in the fullness of time, but until that date we thought some initial impressions would be appreciated.

Halfway into opener ’Coil’ it becomes apparent that with Watershed the Swedes have taken a few more risks. Careful use of female vocals attests to that, and as the album progresses it becomes clear that with two debutantes in the lineup, the band have also introduced other new elements to the sound. This is coupled with a distinct sense of fun to the proceedings – in one section, tuned arpeggios segue into detuned guitars, into Mikael cracking up, and then into a heavily processed laugh, leading into the next track - all a bit different to the more melodious and less playful transitions we’ve heard from the band before. Also notable is increased use of disharmony: elements of instrumental noise creep in, coupled with (what feels to me) an almost cinematic, horror-inspired feel to the substantial number of eerie refrains throughout. Augmented by reversed vocals, quiet whispers in the background, and unusual effects, this feels like something just a little new from the melodeath veterans. The addition of Per to the lineup has more impact than the band’s previous outing, with extensive use of orchestrations, and an unabashed presence of Moogs throughout.

That is not to say all the elements we have come to expect from an Opeth album are not present – there are quiet moments aplenty, while the heavy sections are just as abrasive as ever, showing that the band has not mellowed with age. More refrained track ‘Burden’ shows plenty of prog leanings, and there seems to be a larger palette of textures and styles influencing the melodic portions. As is to be expected instrumental performances are tighter than a mosquito’s ass stretched over a rain barrel, and the new members fill their predecessors’ shoes with few problems. The production is excellent, the 5.1 mix especially impressive, with some real attention to detail. All this makes for a multifaceted record, which will no doubt take some time to absorb. How does it compare to the band’s previous releases? I feel it’s too early to tell, but Watershed is certainly a solid entry into Opeth’s back catalogue, and it will provide some solid listening for the next few months.

Review hecho por Russell

Tracklist

1. Coil
2. Heir Apparent
3. The Lotus Eater
4. Burden
5. Porcelain Heart (Åkerfeldt, Åkesson)
6. Hessian Peel
7. Hex Omega

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Paul Anka - Rock Swings [2005]

Paul Anka is a scary man. Just look at him - his face stares out from the cover of his latest album with evil, conspiratorial intent. This is a man who is surely just steps away from being recruited to play Jack Bauer’s latest nemesis in the next season of 24 - and his plan to wipe out the heart of the free world is a corker. Check this out:

Evil terrorists and corrupt government officials have discovered that the greatest threat to their preferred world order is the liberal-minded bunch of people who’ve grown up listening to pop and rock music in the 80s and 90s. This music has given them independence, and made them question the status quo that, during the peak of the Cold War, they had taken for granted. Now they think they can question what they’re told and, God forbid, try to change things.

So a dastardly plot was hatched. If Anka could just make all these young rock fans believe that their favourite original songs were in fact just covers of old 50s big band classics, they may give up trying new things and bring back the balance. Rumours had it that some post-modern types such as Richard Cheese had been doing this for laughs already, so to be convincing the mission needed to be played dead straight. Scarily straight. Until the listener begins to doubt their own memories…

Frightening, isn’t it? Wait till you hear it. With or without sinister intent, Paul Anka has brought us an hour of big band swing versions of a whole host of unlikely songs from the past two decades. The source material includes Soundgarden, Van Halen, Nirvana, REM, even Spandau Ballet, and the biggest surprise is not that it works, but which songs really work.

Anka has largely avoided the trap Richard Cheese fell into and chosen only songs with defined vocal melodies, and while the vocal melody and lyrics are recognisable the arrangers have taken free rein with the instrumental score. Only Van Halen’s Jump is immediately recognisable - you can’t miss that horn riff - but if you can keep your eyes away from the sleeve notes there’s plenty of fun to be had guessing the songs.

Everything you expect from a classic jazz orchestra is here: smooth saxes and clarinets singing along while horns scream out over a waterfall of tinkly piano in the background. The horn stabs actually spoil REM’s Everybody Hurts, a song that could be done really beautifully with an orchestra, as the arrangement isn’t subtle enough to do the song justice. The potential for quiet beauty is instead displayed best on Black Hole Sun scarily transformed into the perfect soundtrack to an autumnal stroll through Central Park.

Favourite tracks will depend a bit on how you feel about the originals. Wonderwall, for instance, is one of this reviewer’s most hated songs, and while Anka makes it surprisingly bearable, I’m still tempted to skip it. Oasis fans, however, can rest assured that he’s done Noel proud.

There can be little doubt, though, as to which track above all others sounds like it was made for Paul Anka’s treatment, and it’s a frightening revelation. It’s here that the Anka conspiracy succeeds. No matter how much you remind yourself that Smells Like Teen Spirit was written in the 90s, not the 50s, the brain just can’t accept it any more. Despite its undisputed status as an alternative classic, this version is simply better. Now that’s scary.

So there you go. Simply by playing it straight and approaching his material with total reverence, Paul Anka has made an album that will change the way you think about some of our most famous songs forever. Enter - but at your own risk.

Review hecho por Chris Ingold

Tracklist

1. Eye Of The Tiger (original version by Survivor)(4:04)
2. Jump (original version by Van Halen)(3:37)
3. Everybody Hurts (original version by R.E.M)(4:12)
4. Wonderwall (original version by Oasis)(3:37)
5. Black Hole Sun (original version by Soundgarden)(4:27)
6. it’s My Life (original version by Bon Jovi)(4:04)
7. It’s A Sin (original version by Pet Shop Boys)(4:59)
8. True (original version by Spandau Ballet)(4:31)
9. Smells Like Teen Spirit (original version by Nirvana)(2:43)
10. Hello (original version by Lione Richie)(5:14)
11. Eyes Without A Face (original version by Billy Idol)(3:59)
12. Love Cats (3:59)
13. The Way You Make Me Feel (original version by Michael Jackson)(3:49)
14. Tears In Heaven (original version by Eric Clapton)(4:59)

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C-Funk (a.k.a. Funky C) - Joya [2006]

Tras abandonar LOS TETAS, banda de la cual fue su líder y guitarrista, Cristián Moraga (C-funk), lanza su producción solista, llamada “JOYA”. Disco con sabor a Funk de vieja escuela esculpido con tecnología de punta, apodado “vintage 2005″ por el mismo.

Mezcla los sonidos de una fender stratocaster y un bajo musicman de los 70`s, loops electrónicos y batería acústica con sonido apañando, mas teclados y máquinas. A eso se agregan los invitados VIP para algunos de los cortes; Juan Sativo (Tiro de Gracia), Sonido Ácido (Makiza), Carolina Plaza (FunkReal), Rulo (ex Los Tetas, actual Esencia), además de su padre Hugo Moraga. Arreglos de bronces cuidados y de buen gusto, coros en estilo y el timbre inconfundible de su Talkbox, que sella su propio sonido.

En la banda estable, Roberto “Chicho” Espinoza en el bajo, Pepino en batería (batero original de los Tetas), Felo Foncea en teclados y Michelle Espinoza en los coros.

Tracklist

1. Ya llegó (intro) (feat. Boomer, J.Briceño)
2. Standalone mode
3. Joya
4. Acción
5. Actitud (Feat. Sonido Acido)
6. Chocolate
7. Sueltate sobre mi (Feat. Rulo)
8. Carretera (Feat. Anzuelo)
9. Saludos a España (Feat. ReyUL)
10. Amigo (Feat. Dante Spinetta)
11. City funktasma (Feat. Hugo Moraga)
12. Viviendo el dia (Feat. Juan Sativo)
13. C Funk 93
14. Accion skit (Feat. Ariel Pinto)
15. Estás aqui (Feat. Michelle Espinoza)

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Stan Getz & Bill Evans - But Beautiful [1996]

Recorded live at The Singer Concertzaal, Laren, Holland on August 9, 1974 and Middelheim, Antwerp, Belgium on August 16, 1974, this record features Bill Evans (piano) and Stan Getz (tenor saxophone). This is the second time the two musicians gathered to make a record; the duo released a studio album previously; Bill Evans, along with the members of his trio; Eddie Gomez (bass); Marty Morell (drums), have recorded a studio album with Stan Getz in 1964.

It has been told that Stan was not satisfied during the studio recording session and asked the record label, Verve, not to release the album without consenting him. Stan was not happy with the choice of songs that Verve asked, arguing that they were too commercial. However, Verve later managed to release the album anyway.

This second record, which contains the recordings of Bill Evans Trio and their guest Stan Getz during the 1974 European tour was actually kept in the vault and finally made its debut to the fans in 1995.

Tracklist

1. Grandfather’s Waltz
2. Stan’s Blues
3. But Beautiful
4. Emily
5. Lover Man
6. Funkallero
7. The Peacocks
8. You And The Night And The Music
9. See-Saw
10. The Two Lonely People

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Porcupine Tree - The Sky Moves Sideways [1995]

Even if you’re not a Porcupine Tree fan, you have to admit they have the uncanny ability to consistently change their sound with each album. Most bands ride the wave of one sound into critical and popular acclaim, but not Steven Wilson’s pet project. No, Wilson’s pet project Porcupine Tree is the most quickly changing, ever evolving, and always unexpected band around today. Throughout Porcupine Tree’s lengthy career, each album has brought something new to the table. From the overly experimental and strange ‘On the Sunday of Life’… to their heavy, post-rock influenced masterpiece ‘Fear of a Blank Planet’, each album has changed the gameplan for Britain’s best unknown band.

‘The Sky Moves Sideways’, while being Porcupine Tree’s third release, was a massive step up in quality for Porcupine Tree. Moving past the electronic ‘Up the Downstair’, Porcupine Tree took a Pink Floyd ‘Wish You Were Here’ type approach. Make two massive epics, split them in half, one at the beginning and one at the end. Add highly progressive solos and rhythms, and keep the album flowing by putting some truly excellent tracks in the middle. Honestly, I’m a big fan of ‘epic’ ever-changing songs, so ‘The Sky Moves Sideways’ was a great release for me. I’m also a big Pink Floyd fan, which made ‘The Sky Moves Sideways’ even better. Because, honestly, while it’s good, it sounds a lot like Pink Floyd.

But that’s not much of an issue. At all. ‘The Sky Moves Sideways’ is really, really good. Their best pre-Stupid Dream, easily. From the massive ‘The Sky Moves Sideways Phase I’, Wilson introduces deep atmospheres, Floyd like riffs and electronics, and an overall feel of ‘Floyd’. For about eight minutes, the song really feels like a Floyd imitation, but Wilson quickly introduces some ‘Up the Downstair’ like rhythmic electronics into the mix. Backed by some mushy bass, you really get the feeling as if Wilson poured acid over the bassist’s amp, setting the stage for a nice R&B-like rhythm to back it up. The song quickly speeds back up, still led by ‘Up the Downstair’ electronics as Wilson roars out randomness in the background. Suddenly, all goes silent. Tiny violins come chiming in backing the beautiful atmospherics led by Wilson’s ever-present guitar excellence.

A mix of Pink Floyd like grandiose, rhythmic electronics, experimentalness, and complete epic quietness may seem as if it’s Porcupine Tree’s gameplan, but they’ll quickly prove you wrong. Not only is this is one of the only progressive rock albums I can listen to the whole way through without skipping a track, each track grabs you from the start and doesn’t let you go. Mostly the allure comes from Wilson’s gameplan of not allowing you to predict what’s coming next. Wilson will throw at you some latin rhythms and riffs, video game soundtrack-influenced synth and keyboard tech, and beautifully subdued acoustic grandiose. The album is simply unpredictable and somehow works perfectly. The album seems so mellow and meloncholy, it’s complete bliss.

But not only is the music great, Wilson shows off his more subdued vocals in tracks like ‘Dislocated Day’ and ‘The Moon Touches Your Shoulder’. For the tracks, the standard Porcupine Tree song structure is still in order, just a bit shaken up by longer progressive solos and sections, and shortened verses. The best part is, though, that this isn’t mindless rock. There is some deeply moving, original chorus lines that aren’t cliché in the single most idea of the word. The lyrics are simplistic and easy to understand, but have a deeper structure and meaning to them. “Dislocated day/I will find a way/to make you say/the name of your forgiver.”. The ability to merge such a simplistic yet deep line with such meaningless, monotone-like vocals somehow is pulled off successfully, and even more by the guitar riff that follows the line.

There’s a few issues here, though. Even though Porcupine Tree tries to modernize Pink Floyd, they sound a bit dated on this album. The riffs and solos sound very Roger Waters, and the rhythmic electronics sound very 80s. Wilson’s vocals seem trite and uninspired, and lack the emotion of later classics like Lazarus and Anesthetize. The guitar work, while still excellent, isn’t as polished and refined as it is in, once again, later releases. Sometimes the album gets a bit repetitive, but it still manages to keep you interested. Some of the stuff sounds a bit too much like classic 70s progressive rock, and some of it feels really ripped off. But somehow, Wilson pulled excellence out of nothing. ‘The Sky Moves Sideways’ was an album that was supposed to be bad from the get-go, but wasn’t. It was epic, grandiose, and excellent in it’s own way, just like any other Porcupine Tree album.

Review hecho por Porter W. Richards

Tracklist

1. The sky moves sideways (Phase One) (18:37)
2. Dislocated day (5:24)
3. The moon touches your shoulder (5:40)
4. Prepare yourself (1:54)
5. Moonloop (17:04)
6. The sky moves sideways (Phase two) (16:46)

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Radiohead - Kid A [2000]

“Hace tiempo leì que el primer disco de una agrupacion es solo eso, un disco, hay ciertas excepciones, pero las menos. Leì tambien que en el segundo se debia justificar y mejorar el “exito del primer disco, en el tercero es obligatorio superar el exito, y si se logra, la banda comienza a inscribirse como una de las grandes, y por ultimo, leí que el cuarto disco es el experimental, es en donde la banda puede hacer lo que sea sin miedo a equivocarse.”

Bajo esa premisa queda bastante claro el porque de tantos maticez en los discos de Radiohead, un grupo que partio con Pablo Honey, con relativo exito. Le siguio The Bends, superando con creces a su antecesor y encontrando el que “supuestamente” seria el rumbo de la banda. Nada mas lejos de la realidad, cambiaron las guitarras y sus ambientes por sintetizadores y sonidos espaciales y de ciencia ficcion. Obviamente superaron por mucho nuevamente a su antecesor, es mas, este se inscribio en la historia de la musica. Luego, pasaron tres años, tres largos años para encontrarnos, como dice la premisa, con un disco altamente experimental, y que nadie se esperaba.

Radiohead con su cuarto disco, Kid A, cambió la imagen estereotipada que el comun de la gente tiene sobre el rock progresivo y experimental. De ahi en adelante comparar a los chicos de Oxford con Pink Floyd no era una mera locura, era simplemente la realidad. Nuevamente una agrupacion se adelantaba a su epoca y cambiaba el curso normal de la musica.

La creacion de paisajes inimaginables dentro de la musica es algo que Radiohead sabes hacer y excelentemente, como ninguna otra banda, ese sello distintivo al crear la ambientacion, y sumergirte en un mundo irreal en cada cancion hacen de este, un disco, que aunque dificil de “digerir”, totalmente recomendable, para quien quiere encontrar maticez y buscar algo distintivo dentro de la musica actual.

El disco nos lleva por sonidos que parecen sacadas de peliculas viejas, con leves toques de jazz, decorosos arreglos, y unas lineas de pianos que hacen desaparecer completamente a la guitarra por practicamente todo el disco. De primera, el disco parece ilogico, parece irreal, la combinacion de sonidos nos deja vagar por el extraño mundo de Radiohead y por un momento, la menos para quien comprende, nos hace desaparecer. Matices en la voz de Thom Yorke, en cada cancion nos deja diferentes formas de cantar, incluso en algunas pareciese que no fuese un humano quien esta interpretando las irreales letras. El rock espacial deja aun mas abierto el enigma de las letras que adornan el disco. Letras, como se dijese antes, irreales, que solo quien comprende a la banda podria interpretar.

Por ratos parece retrocedernos tres años en el tiempo, pero no, esto es algo totalmente nuevo y experimental, a quien le guste, excelente por el, a quien no, pues que siga el rumbo “normal de la musica” escuchando mas de lo mismo.

Un disco que es excelente para ir a dormir, o para, al menos, quedar en un estado de somnolencia, obviamente no por el hecho de que el disco aburra, todo lo contario, el ambiente, los sonidos, la instrumentalizacion y por sobre todo la voz, crean el efecto de un tranquilizante.

Quizas alguien penso que con este disco volverian las guitarras que encontramos en The Bends, o que quizas intentarian emular el exito del manoseado, pero nunca pasado de moda, OK Computer, pues se equivocaron, y nos dejan esta joya del rock progesivo-experimental moderno, una pieza que marca un giro en la banda.

Y es que una banda con tanta credibilidad, popularidad masiva y ganas de experimentar, no podia hacer menos, porque una cosa es cierta, si este disco fuese el debut de una banda desconocida, otra seria la vision. Un disco dificil de abordar, en donde solo aquel que quiere experimentar nuevas sensaciones, o por el simple hecho de oir algo nuevo debido al hastio de lo siempre, pueden tomarlo en cuenta.

Review por RincónBrit

Tracklist

1. Everything in Its Right Place (4:11)
2. Kid A (4:44)
3. The National Anthem (5:51)
4. How to Disappear Completely (5:56)
5. Treefingers (3:42)
6. Optimistic (5:15)
7. In Limbo (3:31)
8. Idioteque (5:09)
9. Morning Bell (4:35)
10. Motion Picture Soundtrack/[untitled] (6:59)

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Panzerballet - Starke Stücke [2008]

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PB have moved to one of the big German jazz specialist labels ACT Records, (home of EST for instance) for their second studio album, and been encouraged to include some ’standards’ and arrange these in PB’s own style, along side their own compositions/arrangement. Album playtime is therefore shared approximately 50:50 originals to standards.

Their particualrly vigorous use of standards is rather inspired, as you have now a clearer view of where they have come from and where perhaps they are taking their form of metal jazz fusion. Two standards that have caught my ear, and so suffered repeat plays, are Henry Mancini’s Pink Panther theme and Joe Zawinul’s radio friendly Birdland. In a clever piece of thinking they have taken these two tunes, and deconstructed them. Birdland now consists of familiar phrases from the original tune, repeated several times played very heavily and then sometimes with a strong hint of math rock; (although in an odd way I also feel this tune is being played similiar to how Acoustic Ladyland might attack it, if that band cared to played thrash metal!) Btw it works very well asa start before they get round to their own improv. PB’s scrubbed down Pink Panther now comes with a severe heavy and sharp edge, it too also works well; indeed you have to think twice that this came from a film score played by a studio orchestra. In addition, you will find other tunes have undergone a Panzerballett revamp, including those from the songbooks of Black Sabbath (Paranoid), Scorpions (Wind Of Change), AC/DC (Thunderstruck) and Deep Purple (Smoke On The Water- in a form that won’t have you banned from the local guitar stores, if you could play it). In a delightfully perverse way, a couple of these tunes have been been arranged and played virtually in the absence of heaviness, instead becoming straight ahead electric jazz. One of Panzerballett’s own compositions to catch my ears is Friede Freude & Fussball, which kicks off (a deliberate pun) with a simple theme based on the common football fans’ chant heard at most stadia through Europe, Saturdays and Sundays, and then it builds!

An excellent album especially for those who like the heavy/metal end of jazz fusion. Further, an album which may provide the gateway for math rock fans who want to sample and then progress into jazz fusion.

Review hecho por Dick Heath

Tracklist

1. Pink Panther (5:1 8)
2. M.w.M.i.O.f.R (3:54)
3. Smoke On The Water (3:22)
4. Friede, Freude, Fußball (7:53)
5. Wind Of Change (4:42)
6. Birdland (4:21)
7. Dreamology (6:53)
8. Thunderstruck (3:27)
9. Zickenterror (3:49)
10. Paranoid (4:09)

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Dream Theater - Images & Words [1992]

Aqui estoy reseñando un viejo clasico del prog metal, ademas de ser un testimonio de la explosion que a inicios de los 90s implico un ciert oresurgimiento del movimiento progresivo. Para entonces, Dream Theater habia tardado tres años hasta termina rde grabar y editar su segundo disco, con la novedad del ingreso del vocalista James LaBrie, cuyo registro y sensibilidad dramatica conjugaban mejor con el sonido de la banda. Esta, mientras tanto, mostraba un ensamble instrumental mas maduro y mejor compenetrado, en comparacion con s udisco anterior ‘When Dream and Day Unite’. Un mayor aprovechamiento de la tecnologia de los teclados - como efectos de secuencias - les permite, ademas, elaborar un sonido mas moderno dentro de los parametros del metal progresivo. Tambien cabe señalar una mayor inspiracion en las labores de composicion, cosa que ayudo a forjar un nuevo repertorio de lujo. Una cosa que llama la atencion particularmente es la modalidad predominatemente “mecanica” que Mike Portnoy da a su labor ritmica, como contrapeso de la notoria riqueza melodica que destila cada tema, a traves de su filtro prog metal. La banda en general persiste en sacarle el jugo a las herencias recibidas de Rush, Yes, ELP, Iron Maiden y Fates Warning: lo que se destaca aqui es una mayor fineza y un sentido mas medido de la sofisticacion propia del genero prog.

El tema de apertura “Pull Me Under”, sin ser uno de los mas sofisticados de la banda, resulta definitivamente efectivo a traves del energico efluvio emocional de rabia y rebeldia que transmite. Lo mismo sucede con la balada en clave glam titulada “Another Day”, que explora el lado mas vulnerable de la sensibilidad humana. Es con “Take the Time”, “Under a Glass Moon” y “Learning to Live” - una de las epicas del disco - que se nos devuelve frontalmente a las freneticas sucesiones de cambios de ritmo y ambiente, y la exhibicion de lineas melodicas elaboradas y pirotecnia, tan del agrado de los fans de DT. Destaco la curiosa introduccion de algunos motivos de ligero corte jazz fusion como parte de la parafernalia instrumental del interludio de “Learning to Live”.

Sin embargo, es el otro tema epico, “Metropolis, Part 1″, el que merece un parrafo aparte. Su estructura melodica es la mas rica de todo el disco, y el nivel de lucimiento tecnico y compenetracion entre los cinco miembros es sencillamente espectacular. Adicionalmente, su interludio instrumental es, sin ninguna duda, una de las piezas mas intrincadas y acabadas que se haya hecho en la historia del rock metalero y sus semejantes - en mi modesta opinion, es el tema mas logrado del disco, y uno de los puntos maximos del repertorio del grupo.

El lado mas introspectivo de DT surge en “Surrounded”, un tema bien armado, lleno de sutilezas, ligeramente ajeno a la parafernalia de otros temas del disco. Lo introspectivo vuelve tambien a aflorar en “Wait for Sleep”, un hermoso dueto de piano y voz que funciona como una especie de preambulo para “Learning to Live”. No añoraremos mucho la belleza de esta breve pieza, pues vuelve como “reprise” poco antes de la ultima seccion cantada del tema anteriormente mencionado.

Concluyendo: este es un trabajo redondo, rebosante de ingenio, incluso me atrevo a afirmar que es practicamente impecable. ‘Images and Words’ termino por situar a DT en un lugar destacado dentro de los circuitos progresivo y metalero, y queda como uno de los discos mas influyentes y emblematicos del genero progresivo en la epoca contemporanea. Los que por entonces sospechabamos que era un disco destinado a ser un clasico, no nos equivocabamos, viendolo con la perspectiva de 12 años despues.

Review hecho por César Mendoza.

Tracklist

1. Pull Me Under (8:14)
2. Another Day (4:23)
3. Take The Time (8:21)
4. Surrounded (5:30)
5. Metropolis - Pt. I “The Miracle And The Sleeper” (9:32)
6. Under A Glass Moon (7:03)
7. Wait For Sleep (2:31)
8. Learning To Live (11:30)

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Porcupine Tree - Coma Divine Live [1997]

Porcupine Tree are an excellent live act. Visually there’s not a lot of excitement, but the band are masters of their craft. As on their studio albums, Steve Wilson is very much the front man, with the other band members generally playing something of a supporting role. In an interview, Steve Wilson makes it clear that it is he who decides what the band will play, and how the tracks will be played. This will often mean that the tracks will vary, sometimes substantially from those which appeared on studio albums. “Coma divine” confirms that Wilson’s judgement in such matters can be relied upon.

“Coma Divine” is the band’s first official live album, and hence draws its tracks from their earlier, more progressive albums such as “Signify” and “The sky moved sideways”. The album was originally released as a single CD, but the version to go for now is the remastered one, which runs to 2 CDs and adds about another 25 minutes of material. Three of the extra four tracks had previously been released as a very limited edition EP called “Coma Divine II”. All the recordings are taken from concerts which took place in Rome, Italy over three nights in 1997, with overdubs being added later. The recordings were made by a local radio station for broadcasting locally.

The standout track for me is “Radioactive toy”, originally from the uneven first album, even if it does include some basic audience participation. Running to over 15 minutes, it is the most acidic and powerful track here. That power though is present throughout the album, right from the opening “Signify”, driven along by the fact that these performances rely significanty on the band environment (rather than Wilson alone).

Tracks such as “Waiting” and “The sky moved sideways (part 1)” retain the facets which distinguished the studio versions, while sounding fresh and perhaps improved when played live. Richard Barbieri takes the opportunity, particularly on TSMS, to add some wonderful extra colours.

While many live albums add little or nothing to a band’s studio catalogue, the same cannot be said for “Coma Divine”. This is essential listening, not just for fans of the band, but as an introduction to the music of Porcupine Tree for the unconverted.

Review hecho por Easy Livin

Tracklist

Disc 1
1. Bornlivedieintro (1:25)
2. Signify (5:29)
3. Waiting Phase One (4:26)
4. Waiting Phase Two (5:23)
5. The Sky Moves Sideways (12:40)
6. Dislocated Day (6:35)
7. The Sleep of No Dreaming (5:19)
8. Moonloop (11:50)

Disc 2:
1. Up the Downstair (7:40)
2. The Moon Touches Your Shoulder (5:05)
3. Always Never (5:41)
4. Is. . . Not (6:09)
5. Radioactive Toy (15:26)
6. Not Beautiful Anymore (9:43)

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