CONTRAPONTO

A few weeks ago I set up a thread entitled "Is South-America becoming the new progrock leader?" It was visited well and especially my fellow collaborators from that continent joined it with enthousiastic and also proud comments! Well the story continues because after GALF, Tarkus, Diapasao and Astralis, here's another new and interesting South-American progrock formation, the five piece band Spin from Brazil. The four melodic compositions (between 7 and 11 minutes) on this debut CD sound very tasteful, elaborate and alternating and you will find some interesting musical ideas.

1. Sensaçoes Diversas (7.04) : We can enjoy very pleasant symphonic prog featuring sensitive electric guitar, wonderful modern keyboards and passionate native vocals with a slightly theatrical undertone. The climates range from dreamy with acoustic guitar to mid-tempo with organ and propulsive guitar and bombastic with a lush keyboard sound.

2. Buscando Algo De Novo (10.18) : This varied song contains a mid-tempo with fluent interplay between guitar and keyboards, again those passionate vocals, a beautiful part with acoustic guitar overdubs, orchestral keyboards and an up-tempo rhythm with catchy synthesizer flights and quite raw and heavy guitar play. The music reminds me frequently of 70-77 Genesis because of the Banks-like organ and ARP Pro Solist synthesizer sound, Hackett-inspired guitar work (including volume pedal) and the bass pedals.

3. Conflitantes Paranoias:

Parte 1 Sec XX (10.54) : Some musical surprises with jazzy piano and wah-wah guitar, then wonderful parts featuring classical guitar and Grand piano and in the end a fluent rhythm with flashy synthesizer runs.

Parte 2 Sec XXI (4.48) : The first part contains acoustic rhythm guitar and dreamy vocals, then it becomes more compelling with great keyboards, howling guitar and bass pedals and the final part delivers breathtaking choir-Mellotron samples and strong vocals, very moving!

4. Ventos Do Passado (7.43) : This final track sounds a bit folky with warm acoustic guitar and passionate vocals, halfway blended with slow synthesizer flights, very tasteful.

I am sure that this wonderful symphonic prog album will please many progheads, recommended!