DEPOIS DO FIM

We all know the hardship prog endured during the 80's. There was King Crimson, Marillion and there was Rush, but those played an either heavier or more streamlined type of progressive rock then the freely flowing music of the early 70's. I've never shed a tear about this. There was plenty of other amazing music around in the 80's. But I have the impression that everything that still smelled of prog in the 80's got slightly over-appraised. Also this Bacamarte album.

The first few songs live up to the albums high status though. UFO, Smog Alado and Miragem are dynamic compositions, complete with fusion and world music influences, acoustic guitars (in the 80's!?), elegant electric guitars, mellotron and synths. The drums sound very organic and enhance the dynamic feel of the music, reminding us indeed of how things were in the 70's before producers started dictating that drums should be drowned in reverb and that every kick on the snare should sound equally loud. It's something that worked fine for Joy Division but not so much for prog.

Bacamarte employs a female vocalist singing in Portuguese. She shines on the tender Passaro De Luz. The instrumental Cano ends the excellent first half of the album. The remainder of the album gives me an unfinished and hurried impression, as if the whole thing was recorded before the band had finalized the writing of the material. It's an impression further strengthened by the rather demo-y production quality and uneven sound balances. The second half of the album offers a nice extended ballad with Ultimo Entardecer, but the remainder of the album is weak.

For prog-fans for whom the 80's are a barren wasteland, this album will be a nice surprise, but the album is too inconsistent really. At best we have a solid half hour of music, so can't read more into it then a slightly uneven debut from a talented and promising band. 3.5 stars