ALTURAS DE MACHU PICCHU

In my review for Script For A Jester's Tear, I said that the 80s wasn't really a bad time for prog, and I still stand by that notion. Heck, I would even go so far as to say it was a fantastic time for progressive rock. Sure, it may have led bands like Yes and Genesis into a slightly less than desirable pop direction, but it also led some old bands like King Crimson, Camel, and Rush into newer frontiers that not only helped them grow into much more ground breaking acts, it also gave rise to a multitude of artists like Cardiacs, Voivod, Eskaton, and Coroner. Really, I say without the 80s, prog rock would probably be worse off, stuck to the same oldy tropes from the 70s. The year 1981 is certainly a good example of such, as that year gave us some fantastic prog records, like Discipline, Moving Pictures, 4 Visions, and today's subject, Alturas de Machu Pichu.

A part of the Latino prog family, Los Jaivas is a Chilean progressive folk group that started in 1963, but never got their foot into the door until their 1971 release of El volantín, and since then has been exploring the progressive folk camp in their own unique, and very stylish ways. They combine psychedelia, indigenous Andean music, and symphonic prog outlets to really shape their sounds. Up until recently though, I have never really listened to any of their works, though that isn't to say I haven't been at least somewhat interested in what they may have to put out, mostly stemming from RYM ranking their 1975 record of El Indio quite highly. However it wouldn't be until a friend on Discord recommending that I should check out this record first, and I got to say, I am glad I got this recommendation.

Alturas de Machu Pichu is the 6th record from Los Jaivas, and their most well known work aside from El Indio and Canción del sur, and with good reason. Alturas de Machu Pichu is without a doubt a fantastic album front to back, at least to my ears. Being a concept album about Pablo Neruda's The Heights Of Machu Picchu, the band is really pushing the prog envelope, utilizing poetic semblance and sound that really makes you feel like you are ascending a mountain.

To me, this is the Latino answer to Harmonium's Les Cinq Saisons, being this majestic, pastoral, and almost otherworldly record. I think what I truly like about this album is this very passionate energy that is being put forth, with each song having their own different flavors of magic that really give me a sense that the band truly loved creating music, music they could call their own. This is exemplified through Claudio Parra's piano. It just has this very bouncy and freeform feel, which merged with Gabriel's, Gato's, and Mario's vocals create a vibrant palette of Latino rock, folk, and progressive rock music.

Another thing I like is something I said before, that being this album feeling like taking a hike through the mountains. The softer moments carry out a beautiful aura of nature, such as flowers and plantlife, with the more heavier/intense moments showcasing a steep, treacherous path that the listener has to go through to reach the top. From Del Aire Al Aire to Final, the album scales further and further across the mountain, and each turn, each song, I feel rewarded. It really is a powerful experience, I cannot really put a dollar on that.

I really only have one very VERY minor inconvenience towards this record, and that is that I feel like the B side of the record isn't as strong as the A side. It isn't to say the music on the B side is not good, in fact songs on the B side are really great, but compared to the A side having a beautiful opener like Aire Al Aire, the 11 minute extravaganza La Poderosa Muerte, and the very lovely Amor Americano, it is no surprise that I feel like the B side feels a little weaker comparatively. Though, this is a minor setback in the way of a really excellent album, so don't let this discourage you from giving this record a shot.

Definitely a must listen for any prog fan. If you enjoy prog folk music like Sui Generis, Harmonium, or Gryphon then you'd love this record. It is truly a one of a kind album, and one of the best in the 80s run of progressive rock and folk history.