AO VIVO EM NITERÓI

This is a Brasilian six piece band rooted in 2000, they have released two studio albums: A Gaze Between The Past And The Future (2002) and Mundus Novus (2006). In December 2006 Tarkus also released the live CD entitled Ao Vivo Em Niteron, I read that this concert is also released on DVD and you can even watch a video track on YouTube!

From the first moment I listened to Tarkus I was carried away by their wonderful symphonic prog compositions featuring a lush keyboard sound (two members are keyboardist), strong and warm female Brasilian vocals (at some moments similar to Bacamarte), a dynamic and fluent rhythm-section and a crafted guitar player (from acoustic rhythm guitar to propulsive riffs and sensitive soli). The most remarkable element is the sound of the Minimoog, the music contains lots of spectacular soli with strong hints from Seventies Rick Wakeman. The climates on the ten compositions shift very flowing from dreamy to often bombastic and some songs deliver solo pieces on classical piano (very sparkling) and classic guitar (with flageolets that remind me of Steve Hackett). My highlights on this very compelling CD are O Portal (pleasant changing climates and a great build-up that culminates into an exciting 'grand finale'' with Minimoog flights in the vein of the final part of Starship Trooper by Yes), Vida Nova (warm intro with classical guitar and piano, then lots of shifting moods and again exciting Minimoog runs and sensitive electric guitar) and A Danca Escolhida (wonderful twanging guitar, than first a dreamy atmosphere and then a strong build-up to a bombastic final part with powerful organ waves and propulsive guitar riffs). The final track Ensaio Dos Ventos delviers a pleasant atmosphere with a rock element (swinging piano, R&R guitar and powerful vocals) but it ends with a symphonic prog finale that delivers sparkling piano and sensational Minimoog flights, goose bumps!

I am glad that Tarkus is on Prog Archives but this bands deserves more attention, what an excellent live CD!

Live CD of this very good symphonic band from Brazil. It is their first with the new line up that includes another keyboards player and a new singer. The sound is very much 70´s keyboards driven prog music not much unlike ELP (of course), Triumvirat and others. Actually most of the time the band reeks of 70´s music in both musical and lyrical fields. So much one wonders if this record was a reissue of some long lost live recording of that era, even in some instruments timbres (like the Ovation acoustic guitar). Fortunatly the recording quality and overall sound is very modern. Production is crystaline and you can hear each instrument perfectly.

I´m a bit annoyed by the hippie/new age-ish kind of the lyrics, all sung in portuguese. If you can live with that the music itself is quite good, powerful and varied; done by professional players who clearly love what they do and know how to play their instruments backwards. Songwriting is also top notch. Maristella Bessa´s voice is good and fit well in the musical context of the band. There are some great instrumental passages with lots of keyboards solos (mini moog is very used) and guitar. The rhythm section is firm and flexible at the same time. The band seems to be playing together for years!

Conclusion: Tarkus finest CD till now. Those guys do put a great show. If you´re into this kind of progressive music you can go no wrong with this CD. Radical progheads and general music lovers will be delighted! Highly recommended.

When I first heard of TARKUS, I thought they were merely an ELP tribute or clone band and didn't care too much about them. Later advised by some fellow PA buddies I realized my mistake and started to keep them in trail which led me to this live album, "Ao Vivo Em Niterói", and hey, I stayed truly surprised and even touched by this release, especially if one takes in account that I'm not too much into live albums and also that, in general, female vocals do not ignite my soul when the subject is prog-rock (although I love female vocals for several other music styles, like pop-rock, bossa nova, rhythm & blues, etc).

My first word goes then to Maristella Bessa, the singer. Her sweet timbre remembers a few the much admired Jane Duboc (ex-BACAMARTE) while her steady voice extension is quite close that of Zélia Duncan (who recently worked with MUTANTES). She has still much to learn and improve but I do believe she's already in the correct way. Her participation here contributed hugely to make this live album very pleasant and audible.

My second word goes to the general production which was able to issue a flawless album, practically exempt of the common faults observed wearisomely in the majority of the live albums, no matter the country they were produced and released. All this embellished by one of the most gorgeous art covers I've the opportunity to see recently.

My third word goes to the band - what a cluster of skilled musicians. They are really first-class mates and even knowing they had re-grouped short before this live act, they play like a geared team, soaring high their tunes, chords and signatures. Alright, they have their ELP moments but I guess they are much more in the vein of classic GENESIS, YES, CAMEL, RENAISSANCE and their Italian and Brazilian counterparts of the same period - in fact, the album is clearly imbibed in the 70s but we may feel an aura of the 21st Century grazing all around.

The starting point here, the instrumental and atmospheric 'O portal' is plenty of keyboard sounds (TARKUS have two keyboardists!) and the climate they create is able to keep the hearer's attention until guitars blast strongly. Looking for a real progressive track, then come and listen to this: eight breathless and amazing minutes. 'Mundo novo', nervous, frenzy, powerful in its beginning, brings Bessa cool vocals as a nice counterpoint to the apparent madness. The catchy 'Vida nova' has fair lyrics (in Portuguese), fairer vocals and even fairer band's playing.

'Pensamento' is only a gentle interlude for the lengthy 'A dança escolhida', that although sporting prog-rock arrangements (synth and piano sections are fascinating) has its voiced parts more oriented to a romantic landscape blended with some fusion excerpts - not bad but a bit senseless. 'A conquista' turns the climate back to the indisputable progressive realm and the result is above average, limpid and engaging. 'O retorno da lenda' keeps the enchantment of previous track this time provided with astonishing synth and piano tunes played dexterously.

'O hino', a prayer, short and emotional, well-fitted for the singer's flight opens space for the mini-epic 'Dumont', precisely when words like flight and space are essential to understand the life of the great Brazilian praised here, Alberto Santos-Dumont. Lyrics sound like a final will done by the portrayed inventor and work accordingly with the melody that assumes the shape of a jet plane. 'Ensaio dos ventos' closes the album tenderly; a joyous farewell for an intense work.

That said all that lasts is a sincere recommendation to check this album - an excellent addition to any prog music collection, without any doubt.

A band does itself a disservice when it chooses an idol for its moniker, especially one from the 1970s whose bloom has long since acquired a fetid scent. But I suppose it fits when talking about a tribute band or a clone. However, with TARKUS we have a measured intelligent act that catches a much wider drift of influences than EMERSON LAKE AND PALMER within its sonorous cilia, Yet they have further pigeonholed themselves by naming themselves after a specific album, in the process shortchanging themselves, ELP fans, and prospective fans who don't much care for ELP but would still find much to enjoy.

One aspect that is more or less accurate is the adoption of a sound firmly rooted in the 1970s, but even there I would just as readily draw comparisons to RICK WAKEMAN, BANCO, and other 70s RPI, and no doubt some big Brazilian names of the period. In addition, TARKUS didn't simply ignore the 20 odd years that followed the 70s, and I hear a fair bit of second generation groups from as far as Germany (ANYONE'S DAUGHTER), Japan (TERU'S SYMPHONIA) , and yes, Brazil (SOLUS) in the flourishes of some of the more flamboyant cuts.

Considering this really isn't my thing, I actually like about half of it well enough, my favourite being the piano tour de force "A Conquista". Others with plenty of highlights include the varied and swinging "A Dança Escolhida", marred by a requisite drum solo; the album's longest track "Dumont", with some truly electrifying synthesizer runs amongst occasional excesses; and the lively "O Retorno Da Lenda". I confess that I thought the lead singer was male until I read the credits, but no matter - she acquits herself rather well.

Just as many tracks seem aimless and lack coherence, particularly those in the early going, even as they have worthwhile moments. For instance "O Portal" doesn't wake up till the last few minutes while"Vida Nova" drags on too much at the end with the same theme repeated ad nauseum. Perhaps the group wanted to start the show more slowly and build up to the best tracks.

So this album is not a copy of ELP as inspired as it might be by them. No, no, a brazilian times no! 2.5 stars rounded up.