THE FIRST LIGHTS OF THE CENTURY

In 2001 another tribute album to Genesis was recorded by Chaneton, but the group's second studio album was actually a work in slow progress.Patricio Villanueva and Alex Chaneton spent days and days in Charly Kleppe's house and ideas constantly were showing up.During the summer of 2002 Chaneton entered their own In The Cage Studio, beginning the rehearsals related to their sophomore album, which would not finish until October 2003.The following year ''The first lights of the century'' sees the light, privately released by the group.

The closest comparisons for Chaneton's second album are maybe Italians YLECLIPSE or Mexicans CAST, who also played a very rich and grandiose Neo/Symphonic Rock, still Chaneton have this pronounced GENESIS taste in their arrangements, partly due to Villanueva's GABRIEL-esque voice and partly due to the song structures with the changing climates between softer and more dynamic passages.The recordings did last a bit too long, but ''The first lights of the century'' presents definitely an improved sound over Chaneton's debut.No fillers, no weak moments, no boring tunes.This is excellent, modern Symphonic Rock with limited character but strong, lush and polished arrangements with smooth piano preludes, bombastic keyboards and mindblowing guitar moves, while Villanueva certainly belongs among the decent PETER GABRIEL imitators, having a non-accented and expressive voice.The musicianship is very solid with atmospheric, orchestral synthesizers, floating keyboard textures and light electric tunes, while the long pieces contain very good variations between a laid-back lyricism and a pompous symphonicism with nice instrumental ideas.The lovely vocal lines, the great guitar solos and the mass of delicate melodies belong among the album's highlights, a very good work of contemporary Symphonic Rock.Still a stronger essence of personality would be more than welcome.

The album is very long, over 70 minutes, but its vast majority ranges from decent to superb quality.Are you a fan of GENESIS/MARILLION-like Progressive Rock?Then ''The first lights of the century'' is a no-brainer for your collection.Well-arranged and elaborate Progressive Rock with both a vintage and modern aura.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.