MATANÇA DO PORCO

The final Som Imaginario album sees the group transform from a psychedelic band to a tight fusion unit, with enough classical, symphonic and psychedelic influences to give them a sound which will appeal to a broad range of prog listeners. Showing a great increase in the group's technical proficiency, the album title means "The Killing of the Pig" - not an outrageous anti- police statement, but a reference to a tradition from an old Portuguese town where a slaughter of swine at the height of winter is the centrepiece of an annual celebration. In this case, there's plenty of reason to celebrate, because having fattened up their musical capabilities Som Imaginario serve a delicious feast here.