CANCIONES DE LOS MUNDOS PERDIDOS

Songs from the Lost Worlds, that's the English translation for AMAROK's second album having a very orchestral-like arrangement but lacks a bit the ethnic influence and jazz touch from their other releases I listened so far. First half of the record (1 - 7) subtitled "Canciones de los mundos perdidos" contains exclusively tracks with vocals whereas second half subtitled "Danzas de los mundos perdidos" is mostly instrumental. Overall the album is very pleasant and relaxing, but for some reason it's for me the least attractive one of the four releases I listened to from them. But don't get me wrong, this doesn't mean that it's no good either. I'm sure for anyone who's more into the mellow side of prog, let's say fans of band RENAISSANCE or MIKE OLDFIELD for example it's a great record. Nevertheless since there is already one 5-star rating I find it more adequate to give only 3 stars (which means good anyway).

This Spanish band delivers some sweet folk music, very sweet indeed...

The whole of this album is a pleasant musical experience, although it sounds a bit too much of the same. The female vocal is providing some "Renaissance" feel; as the music which conveys at time some medieval atmosphere as well.

Don't look for any complex passages or musical maestria; this band is using conventional instruments (even if there is some oboe featured) and the music sounds as such.

There isn't any standout track as most of them are based on the same recipe; but the whole exercise is not unpleasant. Nothing from the other world of course: just a relaxing moment of music. Good to listen to after a day of stress.

Three stars.

"Another overlooked interesting Spanish prog album".

The previous studio-album Sol De Medianoche from Spanish prog band Amarok (not to confuse with the Polish Amarok) appealed very much to me, I consider it as a captivating and adventurous blend of jazz, prog and ethnic music, topped with a wide range of instruments, including lots of exotic woodwind, string and percussion instruments. This successor entitled Canciones De Los Mundos Perdidos is not a new studio-album but a reissue ((Luna Negra, Musea, 2008) from their second studio effort from 1995, including 4 bonustracks. The band was not pleased with the results in 1995, due to a lack of time and lots of stress. To me this reissue sounds as a very pleasant blend of folk and Seventies symphonic rock (elements of 70-77 Genesis and Hackett solo), very melodic and harmonic.

The opener Prologo is a good examplex how Amarok sounds on this reissue: first a swinging rhythm with percussion and celestial female vocals with a xylophone solo, then the atmosphere turns into dreamy with soaring Mellotron violins, twanging acoustic guitar and wonderful work on the violin.

The other 14 tracks also deliver lots of variety (moods, tempo, instruments).

Mellotron violins with piano, an interlude with warm violin and Glockenpsiel with Mellotron choirs in Danza Y Lamento.

Acoustic guitar, a bagpipe sound and flashy synthesizer runs in Bolero.

Dreamy with hobo (frequently used on this album), high pitched vocals and a sparkling harpsichord solo in Homenaje A J.H.T. Tolkien.

The 12-string acoustic guitar, Spanish guitar and congas in Esqui De Fondo (first bonustrack).

And the lush sound of 12-string guitars with beautiful vocals and again the distinctive sound of the Glockenspiel (just listen to Mike Oldfield his legendary Tubular Bells album) in the final composition Solo Faltas Tu (the 4th bonustrack).

In general the atmosphere is dreamy or laidback but, at some moments more powerful and bombastic, like in the alternating second bonustrack Los Bosques De Irati (church organ sound with 12-string guitar and Mellotron choirs, blended with Spanish guitar, wow!), the third bonustrack El Ciclo Del Tiempo (Glockenspiel and swirling synthesizer runs in the vein of Rick Wakeman) and the up-tempo song El Vuelo Del Pelicano (sensitive electric guitar with echoes from Steve Hackett and fluent work on keyboards).

What a wonderful, elaborate and adventurous blend of folk and symphonic rock, and the 4 bonustracks are "no fillers, but all killers!".