AVENIDA LARCO

Fragíl is a warm-blooded prog band from Peru, which in itself is remarkable enough for a spot in the South America special that is circulating on this site. Well, "Avenida Larco" discussed here, is actually just a fine album, and that is the true reason for its inclusion. We are talking about the debut album from 1981 by a group that had grown into an immensely popular cover band years before. It was a bitter pill for fans to see songs from Genesis, Yes, and King Crimson skipped in favor of original compositions in the Spanish language. However, now every Peruvian can be proud of the brave and courageous decision of their compatriots at that time. Let's move on to the album.

With Fragíl, you can hear that Peru is a melting pot of cultures. The music has an organic layer, and whether it's an acoustic guitar, a flute, or an indigenous percussion instrument, the music always sounds sultry. However, the main focus is on infectious progressive pop. It should be noted, though, that the strong opening track Obertura contains approximately zero percent of the catchy genre; it is as proggy as it can be. For a few minutes, the band's instrumentalists go all out before putting their considerable skills in the service of the songs.

Fragíl's ability to write a mega-hit is evident in the fact that the title track became a huge success single in their home country. The song, named after a bustling street in Lima's nightlife, depicts the image of skirt-chasers and voluptuous girls. Although this excellently sung song by Andrés Dulude doesn't exude the joviality you might expect from such a subject, that seems to have been the intention.

After this catchy number, it's time for the more subdued Mundo Raro. The atmosphere reminiscent of Genesis, as seen in a song like Afterglow, is also present here, although the bombast is not generously present. Fragíl opts for a lighter approach. Songs like Floral, Hombres Solos, and the instrumental Lizy also have this touch?beautiful acoustic guitars, atmospheric keyboards, folky environments, and dreamy flute.

Among the fuller tracks, Pastas, Pepas Y Otros Postres stands out. Be careful not to stumble over the many tempo and mood changes. One who certainly doesn't stumble is bassist César Bustamante, who, with his virtuoso playing, keeps everything neatly together. In Esto Es Iluminación, he opts for a more jazzy approach, and it fits the band perfectly. Wherever Fragíl's music goes or stands, Luis Valderrama always delivers excellent guitar work, keyboardist Octavio Castillo is significant, Arturo Creamer strikes the right rhythms, and Dulude immortalizes himself with his rhythmic way of singing. And then there's Oda Al Tulipán, where the Mellotron reigns. The closer of the album, Le Dicen Rock, is, due to its simple nature, a typical case of disappointment, and it starts so hopefully with a nice synth riff.

In conclusion, "Avenida Larco" is a fine album, something I already mentioned in the first paragraph of this review. During my research on the album, I read a few times that "Avenida Larco" is one of the best from South America. Honestly, that's a bit too much for me. I'll stick with fine. Okay?

Orginally posted on www.progenrock.com