AMAZINGOUS

Inspired by pretty contrasting words on this website I decided to search for this album on the Internet, and soon found the entire CD, then I was ready for a listening session. My first impression is that this music sounds overwhelming: it has a very adventurous approach, it is very varied, it is performed by outstanding musicians, and last but not least, the music and the lyrics contain a rare element in prog, HUMOR!

From the first track Chili Guillermo to the final, epic composition Big Boy you will be flooded by cascades of shiftings moods, surprising breaks, excellent soli, and musical ideas. The 8 songs contain a lot of music that alternates between Heavy Prog, Prog Metal and AOR, featuring bombastic keyboards and lots of heavy guitar, from metallic riffs to biting wah wah. The one moment it sounds like Styx (Minimoog flights) or Kansas (Hammond runs), the other moment like a kind of Spock's Beard on steroids, very dynamic and exciting. But this Spanish band is not satisfied by making Old School Heavy Prog or Eighties AOR. Because lots of tracks contain surprising elements that can be considered as tongue-in-cheek musica ideas. Like the swinging rhythm with a Latin-American touch and Kiss-like lyrics (Get Up And Dancing All Night Long) in Outflow. The funny atmosphere in Cheese Cheater reminds me of Frank Zappa. And in Close Your Eyes the music is between AOR, salsa and symphonic rock, featuring Boy Georg-like vocals that emphasizes the tongue-in-cheek attitude. Also parodical sounds the short track A.W.K.W.A.R.D. with a funky bass, bombastic outbursts and poppy vocals, somewhere between Madonna and Michael Jackson, a fascinating contrast with the sumptuous prog outbursts!

The magnum opus on this CD is the final composition Big Boy. It starts with a funny voice in Spanish (the only moment I was aware of listening to a Spanish band), then multiple changes of climates, very impressive but also very quirky: from a catchy beat and bombastic outbursts to dreamy parts, embellished with sparkling piano, classical orchestrations, fat synthesizer flights and heavy guitar work. Bands like Kansas, Styx and Ayreon come to my mind, but at other moments it's pure pop, in a parodical way, again that tongue-in-cheek.

Although I enjoyed this fresh and adventurous tongue-in-cheek prog, for me one listening session is OK, a bit too quirky sound. But I am curious or this excellent and varied album will reach a wider audience, or only appeal to a selected prog audience that love quirky prog.

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