PALOMITA BLANCA

Beforehand I'm not a specialist of this band, I've only heard this one and their second. Well, for what I've experimented I recognise a very personal musical approach delivered by this Chilean prog folk band. "Palomita Blanca" was originally the soundtrack of a movie directed by Raoul Ruiz. The Andean's traditional influences which deeply animate "Todos Juntos" let the place to something closer to psychedelic rock experiences but always putting to the fore acoustic elements. Today it sounds a bit dated and largely impregnated by "hippie" naiveties. The musical selection offers a lot of soft, detached piano sequences, dialoguing with mini moog vibrations and acoustic / electric guitars alternating passages. This isn't really progressive but it contains its amazing moments as in the epic tune "Piedra Hora". Otherwise, nothing special. I presume that it just remains an interesting discover for true fans.

This album is a soundtrack which shouldn't really remain a highlight of Los Jaivas career.

Childish music, old-fashioned and absolutely not prog at all (Vergüenza Ajena) this album is not very interesting and should appeal (at best) their most devoted fans. For sure, this band will release better material than the one featured here. Some forgettable ethnic sounds (Tema De Las Clases) are far from their good and earlier sounds somewhat reminiscent of Santana.

One of the very few good tracks that is to be found here is Tema Del Colegio. The first true prog folk number of this album (but there won't be many). And believe me, I am rather sensible to Latin American music. But this has very little to do with prog.

This album doesn't work on me. Somewhat similar to these family parties I enjoy while going back in my step-family far away from Belgium. Pleasant while being there, but not on my daily programme when back home.

Lots of extremely weak numbers on this work : Tema De Las Clases, Verbo Divino (absolutely awful), Como El Viento (una típica pero cualquiera canción). Another tropical holiday mood which is pretty much unbearable.

Red Stone (Piedra Roja) is the longest song from this offering (forteen minutes). It is the most serious one. Beautiful fluting in the ethnic and exquisite intro. You can feel all the magic of these wonderful landscapes, these ancient tribes, their way of life. It is a fine journey into these pre- Columbian civilizations. But it is not really structured.

Almost the third of this album is dedicated to this song, and it saves this album from the absolute mediocrity. At times, the crescendo mood reminds me the work of Mike Oldfield. A nice piece of music, indeed. They should have concentrated more in these type of tracks to perform a better album.

One good song (being a long one) is not sufficient to make a good album (even if the closing number "Vete Dolor" (pain, go away) can also be ranked withing the best stuff available).

Two stars. But be aware that most of the previous numbers have nothing to do with prog and are extremely difficult to digest.