AVENIDA LARCO

Easily the best album that I have heard out of the country of Peru. Our own Ivan Melgar who has done so much on our site here especially when it comes to Symphonic music rightly boasts about this record from his own nation. FRAGIL named after "Fragile" from YES were a cover band touring across Peru playing songs from KING CRIMSON, CAMEL, YES, GENESIS etc. and gaining a huge following selling out everywhere they went. A great vocalist and four musicians who can play. This album is so melodic and warm with Spanish vocals and the title track became a hit in Peru and I understand why.

After composing some of their own music they started to focus more on playing that and less covers until they just played their own music. "Avenida Larco" is their debut recorded in 1980 and released in 1981. Under 40 minutes with ten tracks. GENESIS is really the only band who I hear at times in their music. After the opening instrumental we get that amazing title track then another beautiful piece in "Mundo Paro" with vocal melodies and a light sound. A gorgeous track.

"Pastas, Pepas Y Otros Postrus" is next with the fast paced vocals and catchy sound. Another winner is "Floral" with the opening winds and synths as strummed guitar joins in followed by beats and bass and eventually vocals. I like that guitar solo late. "Hombres Solos(El Casman)" is folky with mellotron flute and fragile vocals. Real flute on "Lizy" who turns out to be a baby as she cries late in the song. Mellotron and acoustic guitar as well.

The closer seems like a shot at a hit and I'm not impressed but I am with this album and it's a very rock solid 4 star affair.