PABLO "EL ENTERRADOR"

If you like your keyboards in pairs, your guitars keening, and your vocals in heartfelt romantic Spanish, AND you enjoy good songwriting and arranging, you can't do much better than to pick up this Argentine classic. Although it is from 1983, it does not broadcast this through the production or the instrumentation. One point of comparison would be the 1977 album by Locanda Della Fate from the opposite corner of the world, but this one is less overtly bombastic and has some clearer, simpler melodic themes.

It is indeed in the textures of the longer romantic ballads that this group most distinguishes itself, particularly the emotionally and instrumentally profound "Who Turns and Who Dreams"(Quién gira y quién sueña). Even more so, "Inside the Stable" (Dentro del corral) begins life as a fast-paced organ dominated song with intriguing twists, only to transition gracefully to one of the most breathtaking pastoral segments in prog history, capped by a lilting lead guitar solo.

The album has some very appealing and shorter upbeat numbers too, such as "Vanishing Spirit" (Espíritu esfumado), which features a near wall of keyboard sound without seeming too busy or stifling, and the instrumental "Illusion in seven eights" (Ilusión en siete octavos), with a mathematical approach to the keyboard sequences consistent with its title.

The bonus tracks, with the exception of "Bananas", are more dispensable, and the poppy "Paper's Elephants" (Elefantes de papel) doesn't fit with the overall serious mood, nor does it provide a suitable break from that atmosphere, given that it is the second song on the album. These forgivable weaknesses notwithstanding, I am hard pressed to think of a better disc from South America for the symphonic prog fan. Highly recommended.