LEYENDA

This is the Alux Nahual masterpiece, without doubt... well, I have to say this is NOT a compilation album, this originally was a record of 6 songs with new arrangements, 1 song included in one none comercial EP and three extra tracks as hits... It was only a ten track album... and they promote it like that in the 1991-92. After Alux Nahual leave the label due some troubles, the label decide to add 5 more songs, change the order of the songs and realase it in a CD version as a "Greatest Hits", destroying the good sound and concept of the album, because the last 5 songs have worst sound and recording, so they really screw the production. Still, it is the best selling album for a Central American rock band. I will refer only to the first 10 tracks because is what really matters... so lets get to it...

The first song, "Con tus Manos" was kind of a joke, they record this strange song thinking just on experimentation. They record three versions of this song, one in English -a complete rarity- and a remix a lot longer but very proggy. Here we have the standard track, with interesting instrumental parts, with a great mood and good experimentations between distor guitars, brass section and electric organ phrases. Good song, but a little odd for the commercial tastes.

With the second song begins the "new" songs, really, a remake of their classic hits, with more alternative rock approach, but keeping their symphonic classic elements. "La Fabula del Grillo y el Mar" is a outstanding track, almost the same than the original, just with better sound and heavier drums. This song is one masterpiece, with beautiful cello ensemble and very cleaver lyrics. A must wanted song live also. Great vibe, great song...

"Hombres de Maíz" follows with a great improve over the original song include on their first production. They change the drums, the ensemble of the instruments and add some flute at the end of the song. Great symphonic rock song. Another masterpiece... a new classic...

"Conquista" is another great improve for them. Is a little shorter than the original version, removing the chirimia and tun introduction, also including synth pads in some parts. It's heavier and very rocking. In the same route than "Hombres de Maíz" is another new classic... you are understanding why too many people think these is a greatest hits, it is, but not a compilation...

The four song, "Mujer", is the same old version from 1982, nothing new on it. Great minimalistic love song, changing a little bit the mood of the album. Good song.

We continue with the new arrangements... "Aquí está tu Tierra" changes a lot from the 1984 version. Lost the violin and the symphonic elements, keeping just as a simple alternative song, with great sound and a very interesting drum rhythm. The song helps to keep the unsaturated and beautiful atmosphere throughout the album. Great song, also...

The next one is another of their classic hits, "Dime que has Olvidado" with a lot of improves. More static and less busy, very short song that match quite well with this love-hate subject. It has a beautiful and touching guitar solo follow by a sax solo that brings a lot of movement to the song... great song, must wanted live too...

Then comes the second extra track, "Alto al Fuego". Just the same original version. Being a more recent material, the sound match very well with the album. It's a great hit, so, nothing wrong with it...

The last of the re-arrangements is "Libre Sentimiento"... it's basically the same, but with a better performing from Ranferí in the singing, and including a couple of arrangements from the flute. The mix of this song is better also, and, just like the other 5 "new versions", replace the originals, a lot of people believe this are the originals songs 'cause these ones get a lot more popular... great song...

The album ends the "Como un Duende", the original version. Nothing more to say about it. It matches very well as the closure of the album. Another must wanted live, so now you see why people think this is a compilation...

So, that's the great thing about the album, despite that there are three "not new" tracks, the other six are complete outstanding so the album succeed in every department. Still, the old songs match quite well with the whole concept and made a satisfier experience to have all this classics in one album. After the label include the other 5 songs, yes, it ruin the overall sound and concept, but the songs picked up keep showing the quality of musicians they were and becomes their first "Greatest Hits" compilation and the impact was overwhelming. Still today, the albums sells well, and is almost a reference to whatever new rock band in Central America. This is the album where you can start digging in Alux Nahual music. Outstanding, really.

A good introduction to Alux's world.

Jampa already discussed the context of the album and went into the detail with the songs. I won't analyze the songs too much, since the record has only one song not available in the studio albums, which is "Con Tus Manos". This is a song that I don't play too often, since I dislike the guitars, the brass and specially the vocals and find them annoying. Ok, the instrumental parts are interesting, but they aren't not long enough to overshadow the sung parts

I have the 15 songs version, which I don't feel is ruined by the addition of the extra songs. In fact, you get "Centroamerica" and "Espíritu del Duende" which are masterpieces. The other three extra songs (Fiesta Privada, Toca Viejo, and De La Noche A La Mañana) are also good, but not of special interest to the prog fan.

Ok, on to the remakes. In general, I'm not buying the idea of recording symphonic songs and giving them an "alternative rock" twist, specially because the violinist (Jack Schuster) is gone and the drummer, Lenin, plays as a rock drummer when the songs had melodic playing (courtesy of Orlando Aguilar) in their original form. Nonetheless, I must admit that the new sound works very well for "Aquí Esta tu Tierra", which is played a bit faster and overall feels better with a more developed vocal style by Álvaro. "Dime Que Has Olvidado" has pretty much the same improvements made in "Aquí está tu Tierra": faster tempo, better vocals and different instrumentation. I used to like the remake version of "Dime que has olvidado" better than the original, but right now I'm liking more the older one. "Hombres de Maíz" isn't better or worse than the original, it's just different. I guess the alternative sound also works here. Violin is sorely missing, but we're greeted with some double-bass parts that spark the interest of the listener. Plus, now we have the flute parts, which were added for the remake.

The failure comes in both "La Fábula del Grillo Y El Mar" and "Conquista". They actually butchered the songs. The first one is nothing without the violin. The improvement on the singing doesn't redeem the song. The sound effects that were part of the essence of the original are gone or badly substituted. Also, they try to fill the string parts with a string pad.... yuck. The intro of "Conquista" was basic to the song, and they removed it! It has an awful guitar tone and disgusting, almost vomitive synth parts. The tempo is too fast, almost rushed. Something that I didn't point out in my review of the original version is that it had two drummers playing at the same time. In some parts, this was also essential. And now it's gone... Ok, jejeje, maybe I'm overreacting, musicians are allowed to make mistakes, but I'll avoid listening to this one!

Honestly, I never noticed anything different in "Libre Sentimiento" but now I stand corrected by Jampa. You always learn something new every day!

Pretty much everyone who didn't follow Alux in the 80's, discovered Alux through this album. I was one of them and many people continue to do so. It's probably the easiest to find album by Alux Nahual, so it's a good starting point. But remember, if you're in it for the prog, go find their studio albums, because you're missing their proggiest compositions. If you're a music fan in general this is a must!