FAISÁN AZUL

This really great Argentinian band made 5 awesome albums in the seventies. After their masterpiece "Agitor Lucens V" their frontman Gustav Santaolalla left and there were also other member changes. In those 5 first albums band played really original progfolk, that had influences from the Argentinian folk music. In the next "Los Elementales" band went more into jazz fusion. In 1978 band members moved into US and released three only cassette albums. This album was the first vinyl release after that moving, but the only old band members in it were singer, flute and brassplayer Ara Tokatlian and singer, percussion and ocarina player Danais Wynnycka.

"Aconcagua (Amanecer)" is almost instrumental, but has some non-lyrical vocals. It starts with pan flute, but soon there comes also electric instruments. I have never been in Argentina, but I can imagine to be in Argentinian forest, when listening this piece. Really cheerful piece! Very traditional Argentinian folk music feeling mixed with jazz continues in next "Chacarera Dance". It also has very personal and glad vocals from Ara Tokatlian and magnificent flute playing! It carries really great way it´s whole ten minutes length. "Danais" has really mystic atmosphere with really powerful vocals from the bands female member. It sounds as the night has come into that Argentinian forest. Same very natural and beautiful atmosphere continues in the title song, where the intensity rises in the end. This piece also carries it´s whole ten minutes. In "Gob" album mood changes into carnivalesque direction. Like there comes some parade in the middle of forest. Again piece has very interesting playing in it´s whole length. "Aconcagua (Atartecer)" is short, funny ending of this intensive album!

Although this album doesn´t fully achieve the greatness of the bands early albums, it´s anyway really strong effort when thinking what kind of music was mostly made in the eighties. All the way this is really balanced and meditative album and I really love it´s acoustic nature. I think this band has put into wrong category in Progarchives. It should have been progfolk, only true jazz fusion album is "Los Elementales" as far as I know. Well, I hope progfolk fans will find this really awesome band! I think it´s little sad this band seemed not found as much international attention as for example Los Jaivas or Os Mutantes. Really it deserves that!