EL RELOJ II [AKA: AL BORDE DEL ABISMO, OR SEGUNDO ALBUM]

Despite releasing two warmly received albums in mid-70's, El Reloj were well-known in Argentina since the early-70's as a premiere Hard Rock band, led by bassist Eduardo Frezza and lead guitarist Willy Gardi.They had played numerous lives, before taking a break around 1971, when second guitarist's Gregorio ''Goyo'' Felipes life was cut short due to a terrible accident.They returned the following year with new member Osvaldo Zabala on second guitar and the standard entries, Juan Esposito on drums and Luis Alberto Valenti on keyboards.In 1973 their debut single sold about 30,000 copies and in 1975 they released their first full-length, self-titled album on RCA Victor's Vik sublabel, recalling the powerful Heavy Rock of Deep Purple.The following year a second self-titled album came out on RCA Victor, today known as ''Segundo album'' or named after the track ''Al borde del abismo''.

El Reloj sounded a lot like an Italian Hard Rock/Prog band, let's say somewhere between OSAGE TRIBE and CAPITOLO 6, featuring high-pitched, irritating vocals and basically a largely guitar-based sound.The DEEP PURPLE influences are still apparent in some of the tracks, mainly due to the rhythmic tunes or organ-based passages, but this second album of the band was much closer to RUSH.Even more impressive their incredible guitar workouts and complex twists evolved a slight ''Red''-era KING CRIMSON edge.The material is very energetic, often quite complicated with unexpected tempo changes and strong, mascular riffs, surrounded by very good work on organ and piano and featuring a third guitarist in a few numbers, Carlito Mira.All pieces are quite short with the aforemtioned surprising musical values, played mostly in fast tempos and delivered with an angular edge.The exception to the rule comes from the 10-min. ''La ciudad desconocida'', a nice, melodramatic attempt on Symphonic Hard Rock with a bit more emotional vocals compared to the rest of the album, epic proggy passages with crying guitars and fiery riffs and some trully great and dynamic Hammond organ waves.

Cool Argentinian Hard Prog, very similar to the Italian bands of the period.Dual and even triple guitar fests with complex themes, supported by pinches of keyboard dominance.Quite attractive and warmly recommended.