ALTURAS DE MACHU PICCHU

LOS JAIVAS is a very well-known and one of the most popular bands in Chile. Most of their albums are dedicated to Andean folk, adding occasionally rock elements, but "Alturas De Macchu Picchu" is their closest approach to progressive rock, and... what a majestic approach! The band achieved an unique and wonderful symphonic sound keeping their folk roots, with beautiful and powerful voices (in Spanish) and magnificent instrumentation.

The album highlights for prog fans are -no doubt- "La Poderosa Muerte", a long fantastic song (I dare to say one of the most beautiful in South American prog history) and "Final", the atmospheric end. There are pure folk tracks too -very good indeed-, including the super-classic anathem "Sube A Nacer Conmigo Hermano" (poetry by the great Pablo Neruda, winner of Nobel Prize in literature in 1971; if you don't speak Spanish try to translate, because lyrics are fascinating).

Check it out; even when you wouldn't be into South American folk music this album will be a special surprise!