Almendra for Psychedelic Rock
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Suggest New Bands and Artists
Forum Description: Suggest, create polls, and classify new bands you would like included on Prog Archives
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=127476
Printed Date: December 13 2024 at 23:22
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Almendra for Psychedelic Rock
Posted By: Heart of the Matter
Subject: Almendra for Psychedelic Rock
Date Posted: October 07 2021 at 19:10
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BIO Almendra was a rock band founded in 1967 at the city of Buenos Aires (Argentina) by schoolmates Luis Alberto Spinetta (guitar & lead vocals) and Emilio del Guercio (bass & vocals), joining thereafter Edelmiro Molinari (lead guitar & vocals), and Rodolfo García (drums). They had their first run between 1967 and 1970, releasing two albums, Almendra and Almendra II (the second of them a double LP), and a few singles. They created a strong influence in their time, as pioneers for rock songwriting in Spanish, as well as experimentalists recognizing no barriers for re-invention of the then existing musical forms. Each member continued expanding that influence after their initial break-up: Luis Alberto Spinetta founded the bands Pescado Rabioso, Invisible, Spinetta Jade and Spinetta Y Los Socios Del Desierto, having also enough time for his own solo career. Emilio Del Guercio founded Aquelarre with Rodolfo García, and have also a solo career. García went to create the fusion band Tantor after that. Edelmiro Molinari founded the psychedelic trio Color Humano and the one-album-only Edelmiro Y La Galletita, another trio. The original line-up of Almendra re-united for a second run, from 1979 to 1981, releasing their first official live album (Almendra En Obras) and a third studio album with new songs (El Valle Interior). There was a third and final re-union in a concert spanning the entire musical career of Spinetta, in 2009 (Bandas Eternas, documented on DVD) Listen to their first album: https://open.spotify.com/album/23jZzJ9u5M9p03nf84zuO1" rel="nofollow - https://open.spotify.com/album/23jZzJ9u5M9p03nf84zuO1 From left to right: Edelmiro Molinari, Rodolfo García, Emilio del Guercio & Luis Alberto Spinetta 
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Replies:
Posted By: Heart of the Matter
Date Posted: October 09 2021 at 09:08
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Albums (in chronological order): Almendra  Almendra II  Almendra en Obras  El Valle Interior 
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Posted By: Tapfret
Date Posted: October 09 2021 at 16:11
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Proto-prog and prog related are not handled like the regular prog genres for inclusion. PR and PP must be submitted through a genre team vote. That means on your end you would suggest thwm to a prog sub-genre. You can certainly mention in the comments you believe they might be more appropriate to PP or PR, but the artist must go through a genre team to get there. Otherwise, thank you for following the artist suggestion format. ------------- https://www.last.fm/user/Tapfret" rel="nofollow">  https://bandcamp.com/tapfret" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp |
Posted By: Heart of the Matter
Date Posted: October 09 2021 at 16:40
| Thanks, didn't know that. I'm changing my suggestion to Prog Folk, which was the other sub-genre that I considered. |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: October 11 2021 at 06:18
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aren't these guys related to Aquelare & Tantor? (the first one is in for sure, the second one should if it isn't) ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: Heart of the Matter
Date Posted: October 11 2021 at 07:34
| Yes sir, they are. Del Guercio and García formed Aquelarre right after the dissolution of Almendra. And in time, after the dissolution of Aquelarre, García and guitarist Héctor Starc join the bassist from Invisible ("Machi" Rufino) and formed the mostly instrumental fusion trio Tantor (releasing a highly recommended first self-titled album). Tantor remained inactive during the second run of Almendra, and regroup right after as a (weaker) quartet, with a vocalist and without Rufino, releasing then the sophomore Mágico Y Natural (not bad, but not even close to the quality of their first effort). |
Posted By: Heart of the Matter
Date Posted: January 13 2022 at 14:02
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I just found this older thread with a great amount of additional information on the band: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58184&KW=Almendra" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58184&KW=Almendra |
Posted By: Argentinfonico
Date Posted: January 13 2022 at 14:41
Almendra should really be here in PA, especially for their first and last album. Almendra (1969) is the first Argentinean progressive rock album  ------------- -Will I see you tonight? -I never make plans that far ahead. Casablanca (1942) |
Posted By: Heart of the Matter
Date Posted: January 15 2022 at 06:24
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^ Thanks Mariano for support and appreciation! Here we can listen to a live performance of Jaguar Herido (a song not included on any studio album), taken from Almendra En Obras: |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: February 15 2022 at 11:55
Indeed, that second album with the Arab head is folf rock, but the double s/t is much more psych rock. Therefore, I would favour Almendra either in Psych or Proto-prog (because of the double album), rather than prog folk though that Arab Head does qualify them (a single album). As for their later albums In Obras and El Valle Interior, from what I heard there is not much prog. ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Heart of the Matter wrote:Posted By: Heart of the Matter
Date Posted: February 15 2022 at 16:48
I completely agree with the Proto-Prog suggestion. That categorization should be preferred for two reasons: 1) To avoid missing the more than obvious psych aspect, which you just pointed out. 2) To make justice to the huge influence this music had on the growing of a prog movement in Argentina. So, I think you're right proposing this categorization. |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: February 21 2022 at 12:40
| so...should we start with psych and then move to proto prog? Psych is a full fledged prog category whereas proto is somewhere between prog related and prog as I see it, though it has more of a temporal component |
Posted By: Heart of the Matter
Date Posted: February 21 2022 at 14:43
Hi Ken, I thought that the Proto category had room for a Psych element, among others, like Folk, that are also present, particularly in their 1st album (which is by far the most influential). That's why I first tagged Proto-Prog this topic. In that way, you don't miss the Psych nor the other elements. Now, having said that, if you feel that Psych is dominant in their sound as a band, I think you should have a vote on that first. Your decision, anyway. |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: February 21 2022 at 14:52
Proto-prog is generally difficult to clinch, bevause it is the admins who decide. I think it might be easier to clinch entry thru Psychedelic/space team.  After all, the important is that they're in PA. ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: Heart of the Matter
Date Posted: February 21 2022 at 15:17
| ^ Thanks Hugues and Ken! Renaming now to Psychedelic/Space. |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: February 21 2022 at 15:50
| ok I will notify the Psych team |
Posted By: Heart of the Matter
Date Posted: February 23 2022 at 06:21
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Their 2nd album (Almendra II) has been pointed out as the most psychedelic one. Listen: https://open.spotify.com/album/4MsNzFYnP4twrraRWNFjqJ" rel="nofollow - https://open.spotify.com/album/4MsNzFYnP4twrraRWNFjqJ |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: March 23 2022 at 22:49
| there doesn't appear to have been much interest from psych. One person said proto, and the others were silent. I'll see what Greg thinks |
Posted By: Heart of the Matter
Date Posted: March 24 2022 at 07:01
| ^ OK, thank you Ken for keep me posted! |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: March 24 2022 at 10:58
You're welcome! Greg has some family issues at the moment so it may take a bit. Sorry!
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Posted By: Heart of the Matter
Date Posted: March 24 2022 at 17:13
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A seriously researched documentary on Almendra and their multiple relations with other prog and rock bands (in English, made & posted by Blood Wake): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhOB0y9RZQw&list=PLqyoYX2XbKbrcDpqbCiAU4ex4NkAq0XKc&index=1&ab_channel=SeansMusicHunt" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhOB0y9RZQw&list=PLqyoYX2XbKbrcDpqbCiAU4ex4NkAq0XKc&index=1&ab_channel=Sean%27sMusicHunt Original post: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=128698&PID=5993931&SID=3817260dz4ee54bc444dbb3d19ebb7076967593#5993931" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=128698&PID=5993931&SID=3817260dz4ee54bc444dbb3d19ebb7076967593#5993931 |
Posted By: Heart of the Matter
Date Posted: January 15 2023 at 05:48
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Here they sound pretty psychedelic to me: With a more heavy riffage, hard-hitting guitar solo, and jazzy flavor in the vocals: |
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: January 19 2024 at 10:28
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Nobody linked A Estos Hombres Tristes yet? IMO it's their most prog-like song and probably the only one that can be clearly labeled as proto-prog or even full fledged prog folk or crossover prog. B) Innovative structure ✔ Harmonic complexity ✔ Time signature changes ✔ Dynamic tension building ✔ Flashy solos ✔ Virtuosic instrumental performance (especially the bass) ✔ ------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong |
Posted By: Heart of the Matter
Date Posted: January 19 2024 at 17:39
^  Thanks, that brought to my mind Hoy Todo El Hielo En La Ciudad, a micro-universe of prog delights within just 3' |
Posted By: Heart of the Matter
Date Posted: December 13 2024 at 16:35
| Hello again, I've expanded the bio in the OP with more detail concerning connections with other acts in the local prog scene, and some insight on their general historical influence. Let's see what you think! |
Posted By: yam yam
Date Posted: December 13 2024 at 17:21
| No official evaluation has ever been started for these guys by a genre team. The Prog Folk team were notified in the first instance, and they moved the suggestion across to PSIKE (Psych/Space) in February 2022. One PSIKE team member commented at the time that if they belonged here anywhere, then he thought it would be in Proto Prog. They were never added to the Psych chart for an evaluation though, so as things stand the suggestion is stuck in limbo. Hopefully someone from the PSIKE team will notice that this topic has been re-awakened, and add them to their chart to get things moving again. |