DONDE RENACEN LAS HORAS

Chilean band AngulArt (yes, both A's are capital) turned out to be one of the most impressive revelations in the current South American prog rock scene, and also a golden promise for prog rock in a worldwide context. The intensity and splendour if their debut album "Donde Renacen las Horas" clearly support that, and the use of their own Spanish language for their lyrics should not be a distracting factor to keep the non-Spanish speaking listener from enjoying it. The AngulArt sound is the result of a clever confluence between the epic orchestrations of good old symphonic prog, the incendiary power of Rush and the sophisticated energy of prog metal, with added touches of jazz rock and organic psychedelic keyboard-based ambiences. The four instrumentalists manage to work effectively as a cohesive unit, yet it is obvious that Nazario Tabilo Poblete's synthesizers stand out as the main focus in the band's overall sound. Meanwhile, Alfredo Bown Cuello's singing reflects the anger and existentialist confusion that is exposed in most lyrics with emotional conviction. Actually, this was meant to be, since "Donde Renacen." is a concept-album based upon the furious struggle of the human soul to overcome the destructive power of hopelessness in our everyday life in order to find a light of hope that helps us to keep some kind of faith toward the future, for both the individual and humankind, a quest that is clearly stated in the track 'Locuzco' (after the brief intrumental intro 'Despierta'). The "happy ending" to this quest for hope explains why the closing track 'Ámbar' exhibits such an air of optimistic apotheosis. It's an excellent track, indeed, but my personal favorites are among the most somber numbers: the three part suite 'Judas' is a perfect example of the band's ability to perform captivating melodies, complex rhythm patterns and mood shifts with total fluidity; 'Acta Non Verba' is irresistibly full of emotional density and dark reflectiveness; 'Generando Ciegos' is another fine showcase for effective playing of complex material. Overall balance: 4 stars, perhaps 4 ½ - a great debut, indeed, and a preferential item in 2004's prog rock scene.

The debut album "Donde Renacen Las Horas" by Chilean progrock band ANGULART sounds rather original although I can trace elements from the early Italian progressive rock movement (BANCO, LE ORME, IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO) and the Brasilian bands from the Eighties and Nineties (like LOCH NESS). The CD opens with average progmetal (thunderous rhythm-section and biting guitar) but after a few minutes it starts to become very interesting: many captivating changes of accelaration, surprising breaks and great solos on guitar and keyboards. The band contains good musicians but I'm blown away by the alternating and spectacular sound of senor Poblete on his synthesizers (dazzling runs), piano (swirling play), strings (orchestral), organ (heavy floods) and even accordeon. He gives every song a special flavor, topped by the strong and biting guitarwork. The 10 compositions alternates from heavy, up-tempo and jazzy to bluesy, bombastic and dreamy. ANGULART keeps your attention for the full hour, especially in the highlight Judas, an exciting track, divided into three parts. If you are up to a compelling, varied musical trip and typical Latin-American vocals (an emotional undertone), this sensational debut-CD will please you.

The liner notes and lyrics are all in Spanish but the music really said a lot to me. Oh, there is a black and white picture of the band walking along a pathway, and the guy in the middle is wearing a RUSH t-shirt. I like them already !

The record opens with a short intro song of samples before we get to "Locuzco". It opens with pounding drums, organ and Eddie Vedder like vocals.Yes the PEARL JAM singer, very similar sounding vocals which for me is a good thing. The song slows down a minute in to great effect.This is heavy folks.The song speeds back up with synths and then a guitar solo. We get an atmospheric interlude 5 minutes in until the song starts to build to guitar solos, organ and drums. "Engendrando Ciegos" opens with the sound of water running as a guitar melody comes in leading to a full sound a minute in. And it sounds great ! The vocals are so well done. When the soundscape softens it is so uplifting and heavenly. We get some more guitar solos before a jazzy sound of light drums and piano comes in at the 6 minute mark. Heavy organ play and synths too before this ones over. "El Atras" opens with a someone lighting a match and lots of drums, organ and vocals follow. This song gets better as it goes. Nice guitar solos later in the song.

The next three songs are under the heading "Judas" starting with "Part1 La Locura" which features lots of piano melodies that remind me of Kevin Moore's play on the CHROMA KEY record "Dead Air For Radios". "Part II Dolor" opens with piano then fragile vocals come in.The song becomes quite powerful with passionate vocals. "Part III La Culpa" again opening with piano as pounding drums and guitar melodies take over, and they are outstanding ! A jazzy interlude follows and the piano is beautiful. "Acta Non Verba" is a Spanish sounding tune that has some gentle to scorching guitar solos. Some good synth work and I was reminded of PORCUPINE TREE around the 5 minute mark. The drumming is top notch. "El Gran Viaje" is a short instrumental of guitar melodies and synth washes. Nice. "Un Planeta En Mi Retrovisor" has an uptempo intro that turns atmospheric before the melody speeds up again with a long scorching guitar solo and those Vedder-like vocals. The song ends with nice piano melodies and vocals. "Ambar" is a good heavy tune with synths, drums and vocals being the prominant sounds. This is such an amazing song ! Some more great guitar solos later.

We have to get the word out about this great band ! I was hard pressed to find anything about them except here on Prog Archives from Eric and Cesar. 4.5 stars. P.S. In talking with the vocalist he informed me that each of the members (except for the bassist) are engineers, the bass player is an architect. Smart and talented.

Angulart left us a great album, a solid piece of progressive rock, with lyrics in Spanish, and a variety of styles and moods through the 67 minutes "Donde Renacen las Horas" lasts, from howling pianos, like in 'Judas', to the progressive metal of 'Locuzco'. This first song, the weakest moment in the album, has a sound similar to that of POLIMETRO, especially in the synthesizers. But it's the only moment with this style, and also, the only weak moment (maybe progressive metal is not the area of Angulart). 'Locuzco' gave me a very bad first impression of the album, but after I got rid of that.

An atmospheric 'Acta Non Verba' follows a hurtful 'Judas'. A short but beautiful crimsonian 'El Gran Viaje' leads to a happy (and a little paranoid at first) 'Un Planeta en mi Retrovisor'. In 'Ámbar' I hear something of MARILLION, or PENDRAGON.

The result is a stream of great music, with clear influences from classic and contemporary prog, and with the addition of some quenas here and there. All in all, one can say it is the typical structure of a prog album (if that exists).

The wonderfulness of 'El Atrás', 'Un Planeta en mi Retrovisor' and 'Ámbar' is much more important than the weakness of 'Locuzco', and the consistency of the album, particularly beginning in 'El Atrás' and until the very end, are the good reasons for giving it 4 stars. An excellent addition.