SUITE MEXICANA

For the third release, ICONOCLASTA went and released an EP as a 7" disc. The disc has a small hole, like what's used for LPs, so you won't need any 45 adapter for your turntable to enjoy this. Also it plays at 33, rather than 45, meaning you get around 15 minutes of music total on this disc. Anyway, the music is a continuation of their previous two albums, maybe a little more '80s sounding than previous, but still unmistakably ICONOCLASTA, with the duo guitars of Ricardo Moreno and Ricardo Ortegon, the combination digital/analog keyboard setup of Rosa Moreno, the bass of Nohemi D'Rubin, and the drums of Victor Baldovinos.

The album starts off acoustic, deceptively sounding like traditional Mexican music (not mariachi), but after a couple minutes, the actual music kicks in, letting everyone know that this is ICONOCLASTA, one of Mexico's top prog bands. Without a doubt, the first half of the disc is the best, as the second half tends to drag on a bit (as often is the case of their music). Also this was included on the CD reissue by California-based prog label Art Sublime of their following release, "Soliloquio", so if you long gave up on LPs, then you can get this on CD.

Pretty nice 15 minutes!

This time im reviewing an EP from one of the best and well known bands from my country, Iconoclasta released in 1987 a great album called "Soliloquio" (soon to be reviewed also) and this EP called "Suite Mexicana", nowadays we can find them together as one album, and even there are some bonus tracks which were not in the original Soliloquio.

"Suite Mexicana" has only 2 tracks, as i mentioned in the first line of this review, we are listening only to 15 minutes, for that simple reason the fact of giving to it 5 stars is impossible, also 4 stars are a lot for 15 minutes, i know we can love some epics and we would give 5 stars to any song, but im reviewing an EP.

The first track was named "Mestizaje" which starts with an acoustic guitar, very slow but suddenly some folkish and clear Mexican sounds are playing here, it is music that could be considered prehispanic and completely folk, that`s great because you can have a brief encounter with folk and typical mexican tunes, then the song changes to a symphonic melody, i could note immediately the guitar sound of Ricardo Moreno, i have said it in other reviews, he has a unique style and even the sound of Iconoclasta is unique here in Mexico at least, this song has a lenght of 7 minutes approx, it`s nice but not the best of the band.

"Revolucion en 6/8" is the other song which has 8 minutes of lenght, and it`s kind of the second part of Mestizaje, i said it because the beggining of the song sounds pretty similar with prehispanic music and then again the symphonic period, taking again the great guitar sound and also im sure that you could enjoy this time the keyboard work made by Rosa Moreno, actually all the members of Iconoclasta are excellent in each instrument, nowadays i admire so much drummer Victor Valdovinos, his playing is great and he shows it in this song., both songs have no vocals, so this is pure instrumental music, and exclellent music.

This is and EP, with 15 minutes, after all you could play this songs 4 times each one and have an hour of a proof of Iconoclasta`s music, but honestly i wouldn`t suggest that, you better try another albums, i mean some studio albums like their first three which are great.

I like the music here, but... it`s only for fans and collectors, so 2 stars!

Iconoclasta released this EP before the completion of what would be their third LP "Soliloquio". The "Suite Mexicana" repertoire is virtually a 15 minute opus divided through both sides of the vinyl format. Both pieces bear different motifs but share an impetuous 6/8 tempo structure that links both to the very roots of Mexican Creole folklore. The link between 'Mestizaje' and 'Revolución en 6/8' is easily noticeable for the natural sequence from the former's fade-out and the latter's fade-in. 'Mestizaje (26-a-1)' kicks off with some soft acoustic guitar chords that anticipate the feeling of splendour and illumination portrayed by the full ensemble. The emergence of flute and additional percussions prove to be a crucial bridge to set this celebratory mood. It is the rhythm section that handles the most demanding job at sustaining the frame for this playful frenzy. 'Revolución en 6/8' pursues a similar mood but assumes a more pompous mood, especially in those passages in which the synths displays dazzling solos in a challenge against the lead guitar. It is when the lead guitar assumes the main melodic role that the overall sound become more candid and less epic. This EP shows Iconoclasta at their closest to the standards of prog-fusion, without giving up on their symphonic trend at all. This work is published on CD as a complement for "Soliloquios", a beautiful album to be reviewed somewhere else. The short duration of this item makes it not too essential in Iconoclasta's CV, but it makes a hell of an entry in the aforementioned CD edition.

In a rare move by an 80's Prog band and just prior to releasing their third full-length album, Iconoclasta decided to launch a 2-track 7'' vinyl EP with compositions apparently written at the dawn of 1987.This effort was titled ''Suite mexicana'' and released in August 87', the fourth pressing of their own Discos Rosenbach label (a compilation of Mexican Metal bands was the previous one in 1986).

First track ''Mestizaje'' opens with a very pastoral acoustic crescendo and a strong Latin Folk flavor, but soon the familiar Iconoclasta style will come in evidence.A mix of symphonic and jazzy aesthetics in a very dense Fusion amalgam with time changes, complex bass lines, sharp guitar moves with a STEVE HACKETT-like touch and a nice keyboard performance by Rosa Moreno, which includes both symphonic and more quirky executions.A total 7 minutes of rich Symphonic Fusion.''Revolucion en 6/8'' is the second part, starting with the farewell flutes of the previous track and following the same vein.The music is just a bit more pompous with the good changes between electric guitars and keyboards leading the way, while this time the music becomes richer and more retro-styled with the presence of an organ.Lots of Classical influences and symphonic underlines, the band sounds now like Argentinians PABLO EL ENTERRADOR with the balanced guitar/keyboard interplays, but Iconoclasta were a band fond of fusing different influences, as a result they sound pretty virtuosic and diverse, always having links to STEVE HACKETT's personal albums.

Maybe it would be an excess to give this one a strong recommendation, as this suite has been part of several reissues of Iconoclasta's ''Soliloquo'' album.Anyway, if you ever come across a copy of this short vinyl, do not hesitate.Dense and ch