INDEX

Brazil's Index wheel out a capable and enjoyable collection of symphonic prog compositions on Liber Secundus, their second album. Otaviano Kury is particularly adept on keyboards, drawing on the gentler classic prog keyboardists like Tony Banks or Peter Bardens. Although, as others have pointed out, the vocals aren't necessarily up to much (though I don't think they're outright inept to the point where the album is ruined), wisely the band focus on instrumental performances, which is their true strength. Reminding me mostly of the likes of Camel, the band present a gentle, melodic form of symphonic prog which is soothing and beautiful without becoming trite or corny.

Index from Brazil play an impressive symphonic instrumental blend of prog rock, with a good mix of warm acoustic playing and soaring electric guitars. Their debut album is very much in a medieval/baroque sound, and somewhat reminiscent of early Genesis and Camel, with many classical and folk elements. It is grand and majestic without ever sounding too loud or bombastic. All of the tracks are well arranged and highly melodic, with occasional moments of real brilliance. There's also quite a joyful and upbeat sound to much of the album that is very pleasant to hear.

The album contains many wondrous piano and guitar sections, frequently the tracks will begin with an acoustic section before the electric guitars and keyboards properly kick in. There's often quite a regal flavour to the arrangements, with a real snap to much of the playing, giving it a lot of spark and energy. Endless fast paced keyboard runs provided by female keyboard player Eliane Pisetta really dominates much of the album, with her endless variety of hammond, moog and synth sounds throughout. Occasionally a few keyboards sound a little thin, especially the electric piano in a few sections that would have sounded incredible on the real thing. But she proves to be something of a virtuoso, taking control of a lot of the album. Sad that this appears to be the only album she played on with the band. She performs a very grand symphonic synth solo at the beginning of track four `Ciclos Das Mares' that's wonderful.

Keep a listen out for Fabricio Santalucia's very prominent grumbling bass playing throughout, but especially on the third track `Serenata', truly relentless and infectious! Jones Junior's guitar playing all over the the album is so tight and energetic, but I especially love his classical playing, so beautiful and fluid. His warm acoustic section also in `Ciclos Das Mares' reminds me of some Anthony Phillips solo moments. Otaviano Kury gets to try out endless ideas on drums and percussion, and is consistently great throughout the entire album, but especially tight in the faster moments.

While it reminds you of moments of, amongst others, early Camel and Genesis, the album never comes across as derivative or a blatant rip-off. The fact that it's also entirely instrumental is not a bad thing. Some of my absolute favourite progressive albums are totally free of vocals, and I've certainly grumbled over the years about occasional prog albums severely let down by weak or inappropriate vocals (more so on 70's albums).

There is also a nice illustration on the front cover that would have looked wonderful on vinyl. An interesting cover is always a great way to begin a prog album ' bit of a pre-requisite!

I bought this CD with a bunch of other instrumental prog albums at the same time, and although it didn't grab me straight away, it has become a very enjoyable album that is very easy to put on in the background and thoroughly enjoy. Never overly demanding or challenging, but an exceptionally well played and memorable collection of symphonic progressive rock all the same that would please many listeners.

Four stars from me!

I found out about Index with their third album Identidade. And I was quite impressed by their musical prowness and great songwriting. So much it became one of my favorite albums of last year. It was only natural that I had to find their earlier releases sooner or later. And I did with this Liber Secundus, their sophmore CD. the band of ex Quaterna Requiem guitarrist Jones Junior did not let me down: 24 carta symphonic prog in the vein of 70´s classic bands like Camel. Renaissance and Focus at their best. Unfortunatly this CD is marred by some mediocre, forced, vocals. Their forte is always instrumental prog.

Not that the band members blow it, but clearly, they should have recruited a real vocalist instead of handling the lead vocals themselves. Ok, they also had the help fo female background singers, but in the end it only enhanced how far behind are the lead vocals compared to everything else in the record. But let´s be fair: the songs are great, the playing is superb and the arrangements are tasteful and varied. In the end the positive side of this CD is much bigger than to the few negative ones (all related to... well, you know which).

It is no surprise that, to me at least, the best tracks are the instrumentals: the opener Lagrima (featuring a nice female wordless singing), the short, beautiful and delicate guitar and harmonica duo of Algemas de Cristal and the epic closer Novella. The remaining tracks are also very good, displaying Jones emotional guitar solos and licks, Otaviano Kury´s symphonic, vintage sounding keyboards, Ronaldo Schenato´s fluid bass lines and Leonardo Reis versatile drumming. Production is quite good.

In the and I think that if this album was totally instrumental I´d easily give it a five star rating. Still, after some spins I could go past the weak vocals and face the fact that even those non instrumentals are also excellent tunes themselves, all very well performed by people who knows how to deliver some great, complex and beautiful symphonic prog without losing sight of the melodic trait that only the best can do.

Final rating: somewhere between 4 and 4,5 stars. Highly recommended.

I must say that I was not exactly excited when I got this CD from a friend. I heard it was a band from the guitarrist of brazilian synphonic prog group Quartema Requiem, so I was thinking that it could be either a poor copy of that band or an ego trip. When I finally put it to play I was delighted to find out it was neither. In the end Identidade comes across as one of the best instrumental prog albums I heard in recent years. Jones Junior (guitars and flute) shows great skill and good taste all over the CD and the three band members are also great musicians.

The music here is a guitar-led symphonic prog with lots of classical, jazz and latin influences. Vintage sounding keyboards give a 70´s flavour on all the tracks. Some parts remind a lot of Focus best moments (Opus 1- Marina is a good example). Although the excellent musicanship of all involved is clear, they never get lost in pointless jams or noodling, not even when they risk it into the muddy waters of Zappa-like jazzy parts (Fogo de Santelmo). It is music with discernible melodies and tight arrangements. Excellent drumming, great bass runs and swapping keys and guitar solos are the main course (some brilliant flute moments too, by the way).

Production is excellent. There are no fillers and all the songs are on the same level. Not much more to say. You hear it, you judge. For my part, I just keep pressing the repeat button over and over when I hear this CD. I don´t know about other index albums, and I´m gonna get them sooner or later, but I was hooked by this one.

Rating: I was going to give it a 4 or 4,5 star rating because some jazz-rock/fusion parts are not really my cup of tea. However, even those parts are so well done and tasteful that I ended up loving them too. Hence, five stars. A masterpiece of prog music, no less. Highly recommended! But be warned! Highly addictive too.

This Brazilian band already produced a very good debut album ("Liber Secundus") and this one starts wonderfully with a superb, dynamic, tribal, emotional, guitar and percussion- oriented (hi Carlos!) piece of music. "Vulcano" deserves its title: it is a boiling song. Gorgeous by all means!

Unlike what has been written in their bio, I can't find a trace of ELP in here. Anyway, the music is rich, complex and superbly interpreted. What a pleasure to listen to such an album! An all instrumental and gentle piece of pure symphony with a jazzy angle though. The musicianship is of very high quality and it is a shame that these guys are not better known. Especially on a site like ours!

Just have a listen to the sublime first part of "Suite Angelus". Close your eyes and appreciate: this is really the only thing to do while listening to this great and melodic track. Should I say another highlight? Yes of course!

And if the second leg is maybe a bit shy, it is still a very fine moment of superb symphonic rock displaying a great guitar work. It is another real good track.

The "Santana" feel is again very present during "Fogos de Santelmo": a superb blend of crying guitar, good percussion and jazzy atmosphere (maybe too jazzy though to my taste). The same applies to "Coracoes Do Mundo" with an even jazzier accent.

The great feel comes back again with the fantastic closing number: "Index II" is such a fine piece of symphonic prog!

Heavenly guitar, sustained bass and great drumming work. A true delight for sure. Is it necessary that emotion sits at every corner of this epic? That symphonic lover will reach a musical orgasm during the closing part? That you should listen to this great album?

Four stars. It holds some superb musical moments that would deserve to be shared by more PA reviewers.

This is a very good album released by "Index", a(nother) Brazilian band with little exposure.

If you like beautiful melodies, powerful and convincing guitar breaks, aerial synths and keys: this will be a delight to your ears (as it was for mine). The whole of this long album is pure charm, poetry, and dynamics.

Most of the songs are rather on the long side, but the short and delicate "Algemas de Cristal" has its own merit as well. But it is of course during the longest parts that the band is reaching his whole potential. As such, "Guernica Em Nova York" is a marvel of a symphonic piece with fine mellotron and an incredible electric guitar finale. Great track, really.

The music from this band is not revolutionary, but very harmonious and truly symphonic. No need to tell you that I quite like it. The epic and closing track "Novella" is just a summary of what has preceded. It is an excellent manner to finish this fine and very pleasant work.

Four stars.

Stage, musicians, audience, sound, a couple of cameras....

That's the formula here. No elaborate dance routines like a Take That show. Not even like a Rush, Jethro Tull or a Yes show. This is DVD done on the cheap...... and that's a good thing. You cannot and you shall not present this band as something they are not. What Index is, is exactly what you get here. Four honest men, playing honest symphonic prog. No bombs, no flashing lights and no female dancers. This DVD is like inviting Index into your own home or local cafe. I think you may get the script now.........

The music is symphonic prog with strong homage to Camel. The music is good and that is excellently conveyed by the two camera men. One of them are too fond of being in this DVD himself by sometimes being too close to the action. But he is forgiven. The audience is also taking part here and creates a good mood. I do not understand the local language (Portugese, I believe), but the small talk between the songs enhance this DVD. A couple of old friends from also shows up Quaterna Réquim and Akashic also contributes on a couple of songs.

The song Quaterna Réquim (from Junior's time with the same band) is excellent as usual. But the Index stuff is good. There is nothing bad here. But watching this gig is hardly an exciting experience. I would (almost) prefer a live CD instead of this DVD. The xtra stuff is good too. In short, this is a good DVD made on a budget, but which still does as it says on the tin. No less, no more.

3 stars

I am listening to this album as a preparation for a couple of hours with their DVD I got from their record label some months ago (sadly neglected by me until this weekend). Just to find out what this band is all about.

This is their second album and the first one with vocals. The music is somewhere in the Genesis and Camel area. Tempus Fugit too is a good reference point for those who knows that band. Sadly, too few here does that so Genesis and Camel have to do. The music is symphonic prog, in other words. But there is also strong hints of the local music scene. This is a South American symphonic prog album. Add some space rock too and you get it. In particular on the long instrumental parts which is pretty spacy. The vintage hammond organ sound is pretty good throughout. This album has the good 1970s feel over it.

Quality wise....... I am not as sold on this as the other reviewers here. Although the music is good to very good at places, it never really takes off into the stratosphere of the prog rock universe. Although I likes it far better the tenth time I am listening to it than the first time I sunk my teeth into this album, this album does not have any killer tracks and nothing else than a pleasant sound. That too me is not a great album. But then again, this album is so good that it is well worth checking out.

Good, but not great.

3 stars (and some decimals too)

3.5 stars actually...

Formed in 1998,INDEX were led by guitarist Jones Junior (ex-QUATERNA REQUIEM) and drummer Otavian Kury and released their self-titled debut independently just a year after their formation.''Index'' had great success in countries like Italy,France,Korea,Argentina and USA with its elaborated symphonic rock sound.Following QUATERNA REQUIEM's traditional progressive rock,INDEX delivered six well-executed,sophisticated compositions lying somewhere between CAMEL's Canterbury/symphonic prog and E.L.P.'s classical/baroque-ish approach to rock.Definitely this album has its moments,based on Jones' superb Latimer-like guitar work and Pisetta's beatiful keys,a cross between PETER BARDENS and KEITH EMERSON.After bands like TEMPUS FUGIT,DOGMA or QUATERNA REQUIEM,INDEX are another talented act,who belong to the 90's Brazilian symph highlights.Judge for yourself by grabbing this nice treasure,which I honestly liked from the very first listen.

The odd thing is listening to Quaterna Requiem this Brazilian symphonic prog outfit I was first reminded of the Horslips. And, Index come a distant third in that two horse race.

Caverna is quite different. What I thought would be a keyboard introduction extended to the middle of the song, and after a brief respite it returned in all its splendour, sort of a mix between a home electric organ accompanying a flickering black and white western to a crematorium dirge as the coffin slowly disappears into the flames. If you happen to have that image in your head then the surprisingly upbeat section that follows is bound to bring a smile to your face: it's as if a troop of folksy dancers have traipsed in to the funeral parlour to lift the mood.

Serenata is well, a bit more serene (funnily enough). However, it never really captures and controls the mood of the listener. Maybe that is the greatest criticism of the entire album: yes, the music is quite interesting, yes it's pleasant, but it never grabs either the emotion or the intellect. In failing to do so I have to conclude that for me the album just fails, not through being dreadful, offensive but just by being insipid.

Just scrapes 2 stars.