SOLUNA

According to bandleader Gustavo Santaolalla, Soluna devoted a half of the studio time in this recording to round the vocals in the form of four-part harmonies, with one distinctive female contribution bringing in a decisive shade of multi-gender splendour to the proceedings. Definitely, that's tantamount to claim that the vocals set a good part of the foundations for the accomplished groupal sound we are considering. But listening to this music is also enough to perceive much more, many other elements in action when it comes to the full realization of the work.

We should consider at least three different apects: a lovely merging of the folk-song form with the silky lines of a chamber-like string section formed by cello and violin, on one hand, and the inclusion of odd-meter song sections, strategically scattered over here and there, on the other, which seem to be instigated by the actively mutating role of the several percussion and keyboard players, as well as by the brilliant interventions of the electric guitar. And the mention of the axe immediately leads us to consider the third aspect in the construction of this sound, i.e. Santaolalla's playing, which we find here in plain retreat from the truly expansive soloist featured in the last album with his initial band, Arco Iris, entitled Agitor Lucens V. Nevertheless, playing less notes seems to be no impediment to achieve a sharply vibrant, tasty tone, extending the arch supporting songs like the opener, or track 7 Detrás De La Valla, beyond the usual trite conventions fixed by production codes for the folk genre.

Of course, there are many more must-hear moments demanding attention from the committed seeker of forgotten progressive treasures, like, for example, the exquisite synth miniatures hidden in plain sight by notorious guest Charly García, and also the not less exquisite call-and-response intertwining cello & violin with the acoustic guitar (or is it a mandolin, maybe?) in track 8 Una Vida Para Amar.

Excellent, maybe even masterful, I'm rating conservatively at four, for now.