MELIORA

— First review of this album —

Excellent eclectic progressive rock album, completely overlooked by the prog community. Meliora released just this album, but what a hidden jewel. Meliora was led by violinist, singer, and composer Fabiola Simac (her solo career is also in progarchives), with two guitarists, bass and drums. The last song includes keyboards. All instruments have an equilibrated contribution to the songs, but Fabiola's voice and violin make the album to have a distinctive sound. Overall, the album maintains a coherent musical pattern. Nevertheless, this does not mean that there are enough musical and thematic diversity ranging from ethereal and atmospheric, pure symphonic rock or Red-era KG musical passages. In brief, a musical journal most progrock listeners would enjoy. Highlights: Desdén, Aftermath and Fractal Space, although personally I will also add Ondina.

Resiliencia. This is a long futuristic-line instrumental intro. It would be well suited for a science-fiction passage.

Desdén. This is an eleven-minute atmospheric journey led by the violin, and in some fragments by guitars or beautiful vocals. The track concept may remind of the Pink Floyd Echoes/Shine On You Crazy Diamond era, but the overall results are original and distinctive from these two PF albums.

Primer encuentro. This is an instrumental track with an excellent interplay between the violin and the guitars, with enough good changes to keep the interest along the track.

Aftermath. This is a masterwork led by the violin, with some beautiful vocals and some interesting guitar dominated passages. Except for a peaceful and beautiful interlude with a prominent violin and bass lines, this track keeps an intense musical lines from start to end. Worth of mention, the splendid bass lines.

Revelación. Instrumental track led by the violin, that if I understand well is built on variations of a relatively simple, but beautiful melody,

Ondina. This song starts as a relatively simple, but beautiful, sad ballad, but at minuter four starts building up in a powerful and intense musical passage. Then the musical moves to a soft, melodic finale.

Fractal Space. What a powerful start. The first time I listened to this song, King Crimson came to mind. This is a delightful, powerful instrumental track that you want to put when you have guest for dinner that only like soft-music and want them to leave.

Fade Away. Another lengthy track. It keeps the musical coherence from other tracks, but in this case I would say it has a more Genesis Peter Gabriel-era feeling, specially in the keyboards. This is not my favorite, but I would like to highlight the epic ending.