LA MÁQUINA DE HACER PÁJAROS

La Maquina de Hacer Pajaros was a symphonic rock group formed by former Sui Generis singer Charly Garcia.The myth says this was the most expensive album to come from Argentina. This album features a Moog synthetizer for the first time ever in any group from my country. It's funny because Garcia called the group as: Yes from the Third World. However , I have to do two comments here. First of all their music , while clearly symphonic prog , has nothing to do with Yes (the bass playing is an exception to the rule). I would describe it as a mixture between RPI and jazz rock. And in second place , those musicians weren't undeveloped at all.

The opener Bubulina was already presented to the public in the Adios Sui Generis concert but this time featuring symphonic arrangements. The song is really calm and reminds me of some RPI bands like Celeste or PFM , the vocal harmonies are really good. At 3:37 there it is , the Moog for the first time in a local record! The second song Como mata el viento norte is a folkish ballad drenched with Moog synthetizers , although is a really short tune it's one of my favourites from La Maquina. Boletos pases y abonos starts really funky ( Garcia was a Steely Dan fan) but then turns into a powerful number. I specially like the interplay between both keyboardists and drummer Oscar Moro , this guy was one of the best drummers to come from my country.

No puedo verte mas , follows the same line of the previous tune. However , Garcia's vocals are somewhat exagerated and don't do justice to this song. It's a pity since there are great basslines all over and a really tasteful jazzy section remindng me of Brand X. Rock and roll is not a Led Zeppelin cover. It features a majestic symphonic like beggining and then turns into a powerful rocker , too much in the vein of Seru Giran for my tastes. Por probar el vino y el agua salada is a folkish tune in which the synthetizers resemble some violins , in my opinion is the worst song of the record. I find it to be really cheesy. Luckily for me , after this letdown comes the best song of the album: Ah te vi entre las luces , this is an epic that can do well against the best of the genre. The band really shows it's symphonic side here , the athmosphere is really calm with Charly's subltle synths and vocals being the principal feature here. It reminds me of Canto nomada per un priggionero politico by Banco.

Overall , La Maquina's debut is a landmark in argentinian and south american progressive music. Moreover , the musicians involved were among the best of it's generation. This two facts make this album a really good addition to any collection.