BUENOS AIRES - FREE EXPERIENCE, VOLUMEN 2

Warning: this is not a successor to the album Perpetuum Karma but a release in the serie Free Experience by the Brasilian Progrock label Record Runner (fellow Argentine band Amagrama started in this serie). The record company Record Runner mentions about this special serie: "The "Buenos Aires Free Experience" project is an associated production of Brazilian Record Runner company and Argentine UTOPIA Music Factory with the intention of showing the hidden side of musicians and their playing of instruments from the spirit. These "jam sessions" consist in meetings where every musician generates a musical frequency of energy able to harmonize with the others. In the Seventies, the legendary and endless 'jam sessions' were the most sublime passages of musical expression. Four decades later, my aim is to record in this collection of improvisational moments a sound 'collage' including rock, hardrock, blues, psychedelia, symphonic-rock, jazz, avant-garde, etc. The basic idea is to use music as a vehicle for the soul to express itself. Every piece of music is created and improvised live at the studio, without overdubs nor rehearsing, and later they are edited and mixed with a very creative criterion." So take your seat and enjoy a captivating musical adventure by excellent, very inspired musicians!

1. Plaga (17.51) : Nexus starts very dynamic delivering fiery guitarplay and powerful Hammond work, supported by a beautiful strings-sound and propulsive drumming. Then the rhythm slows down, after a biting wah-wah drenched guitar solo the atmosphere is quite bluesy with a slow synthesizer solo (fat Minimoog sound). Gradually the rhythm-section plays heavier and we can enjoy splendid interplay, culminating in a breathtaking climax, Nexus 'rocks'! But it's not over, in a swinging rhythm Lalo delivers a swirling Hammond organ solo and flashy Minimoog flights, followed by a heavy guitar solo and sumptuous keyboards, the final part features piano and howling guitar runs, what a start!

2. El reves del espejo (5.34) : A powerful mid-tempo with fiery guitar and bombastic keyboard work, then a propulsive rhythm-section supporting a heavy and raw guitar solo and sensational keyboard flights, culminating in exciting interplay and amazing drumming.

3. Servicio de lounge (14.39) : Nexus got the blues with slow Hammond waves and a bluesyguitar solo. Gradually the atmosphere becomes heavier and more dynamic featuring very tastful and varied keyboard work, from the Fender Rhodes electric piano and Hammond organ to the Minimoog synthesizer sound. The interplay is awesome, ending in a compelling Keith Emerson inspired Hammond organ solo.

4. No pizza (14.25) : A swinging rhythm with lots of piano runs, a swirling Hammond organ solo and fat Minimoog flights, supported by very powerful and propulsive drum beats, how dynamic this sounds!

5. Dame un "La" (0.55) : A very short piece featuring Spanish voices and the tuning of instruments.

6. Danza mental (18.12) : This long and alternating final composition starts with a wailing violin by Vox Dei guitar player Ricardo Soulé, the melancholic climate fits perfect to the Spanish vocals by Nexus guest singer Lito Marcello (also on their latest album Perpetuum Karma). Nexus delivers a pleasant harmony of mellow organ, intense violin, fat Minimoog runs and bluesy guitar. A short accellaration contains heavy and raw guitarwork in the vein of Jimi Hendrix and Ritchie Blackmore, these are Carlos Lucena his obvious roots! Then we can enjoy raw, distorted and howling guitar runs, a dynamic rhythm-section, flashy Minimoog flights and a sensitive violinsolo. The heavy final parts sounds as a tribute to Deep Purple during the Made In Japan era, a big hand for the powerful and exciting Hammodn organ!

Don't expect symphonic prog in the vein of the music on their album Perpetuum Karma, just enjoy the captivating, adventurous and dynamic blend of styles, mission accomplished!

Muchas gracias, Alberto!

The "Buenos Aires Free Experience" is sort of an experiment I guess you could say where the Record Runner music label invites bands to come into their studio to create and play live music in a spontaneus way. So yes this is all about improvs which let's face it is a scary thing for most bands. There is no rehearsing or overdubs, but later the music is edited and mixed. NEXUS is the second band to take part in this series. What I found interesting about this recording (knowing the band NEXUS very well) was that they incorporated different styles into their music instead of being the straight up Symphonic keyboard-led band that i'm used to. Some Blues, Jazz and above all with this style of music (winging it) is that they jammed a lot. I love when bands do that so this record was a hit with me.

"Plaga" is a fantasic way to start. Heavy drums with organ to begin then the guitar takes the lead. This sounds great.It settles as synths wash in before 1 1/2 minutes. The guitar is back with some chunky bass as the synths continue. Nice. It starts to build after 6 minutes. So good. It's heavier before 9 minutes as drums pound. It settles again 13 1/2 minutes in. I like it ! "El Reves Del Espejos" opens with synths and spoken words in Spanish. It kicks in KING CRIMSON-like with some steller guitar and fat bass with crisp drumming. Synths help out too. I really like this tune. "Servicio De Lounge" opens with synths as guitar and organ join in. Drums and bass support. It's pretty laid back as synths come and go. The tempo picks up after 5 minutes. A Jazzy vibe here. A change before 11 minutes as the guitar starts to lead and the tempo slows up.

"No Pizza" is fairly bombastic as one might imagine when there's no pizza. Piano, drums and bass lead early. Organ before 2 1/2 minutes and it leads until the drum show 6 minutes in. It turns heavy before 8 1/2 minutes. I like the drums before 12 minutes. "Dame Un "La"" is a one minute excerpt of drums, synths, guitar, violin and voices. "Danza Mental" is the over 18 minute closer. Synths and violin early. A beat before 3 1/2 minutes as the synths and violin stop. Vocals join in and organ too. Violin is back before 4 1/2 minutes, synths too. Heavy guitar before 6 1/2 minutes. Vocals are back 8 minutes in. Violin before 12 minutes. It then settles. Ripping organ 16 minutes in when it picks back up.

A solid 4 stars for me. It's just refreshing to hear NEXUS in this situation, especially since they were so successful at it. As Luis mentions in the liner notes, this is a more raw and direct NEXUS.