LIBRE Y NATURAL

ESPIRITU had a pretty good run playing Symphonic music in Argentina, releasing four studio albums over a ten year period before making that comeback album some 20 years after that fourth record. Their first two albums are the ones to get, played in that similar melodic style but this the second of their first two has more fire. Almost seems like a toss-up when you look at opinions as to which one is the better record. I think both are low 4 star recordings, too good to give 3 stars but I have issues.

Especially when I've been listening to CRUCIS a lot lately and they also released two great albums the same year this one was released in 1976. I just think CRUCIS is the better band with the better songs. After ESPIRITU released their debut in 1975 their keyboardist left for another band so that's the only change from the debut as we get a new keyboardist. A five piece including the vocalist who I do like. At 32 minutes spread over eight songs it is a short one.

We get an under 2 minute intro track where organ, bass and drums standout. A top two song is the next one, the title track and it all works so well, the vocals especially. Some good contrasts between the calms and powerful sections. Check out those vocals before 4 minutes. Oh my!

The longest piece "Deselectriza Tu Mente" is my other top two. This one is all over the place but there's some incredible moments here. Some fast paced guitar early on as the bass and drums support soon to be joined by vocals. When the tempo slows it's still nasty. There's an instrumental section before 4 minutes that sounds so much like CAMEL to my ears.

That sixth track sounds so much like YES, well at least the first 1 1/2 minutes before it changes completely. There's a bit of crooning going on on a couple of tracks that I'm not into. That fourth track is great once we get past some of those vocals I was just talking about.

CRUCIS are still my go to band when it comes to Symphonic from Argentina but there's so much to enjoy here, always worth a listen.