EL MENSAJE DEL MAGO

Remarkably enough, the line-up will amost be the same than on thier previous release ("No Hay Ningun Loco Completo"). There is even the return of a violonist. So, flute + violin + keyboards = prog ? Well not really...

The opening number is pure AOR music. I do not like this. From a hard-rock oriented music greatly influenced by Tull, with sublime flute play, "Ñu" will switch to a softer approach. Of course, there has been three years between this album and their last studio release. Maybe that this explains this change of orientation.

There will be some great numbers like "Manicomio" (asylum). This one sounds like of song of their good old days, although a lot quieter than most of their crazy songs. This one is almost folkish : so in this case : flute + violin = prog. A pleasant song, indeed. Like "Condenado A Vivir". A pop rock song mixing again a basic melody with a good rhythmic and flute. A bit too repetitive, maybe.

Another folk-rock composition with "Una Copa Por Un Viejo Amigo". I have to say that the almsot gospel mood of the chorus at the end of the song is quite boring. This is not the "Ñu" that I like. Gone the craziness, the wild ones. As if Molina became a more respectable character by now.

With such a title, no wonder that "Robin Hood" opens on such a pastoral mood. Filiation with Tull is of course easy to identify. But the melody is rather weak, and it turns out to be a bit syrupous. Too much to my taste.

This album is radically different than the previous Ñu ones. This change of direction is not for the best I'm afraid. Some good folk passages, some poor AOR, average rock songs ("Piratas Del Exito"). My global feeling is that this album really doesn't match Ñu's standards.

Only one outstanding number : the closing one "Cautivo Del Placer". Beautiful flute playing (but Molina is great in such excercise). The beat is again on the soft side but this song develops such an emotion during the violin solo...Truely brilliant. Powerful vocals as well will contribute to finally release one great song on this album. Which is not enough.

I quite liked "Ñu", but this is their weakest album so far. Two stars.