AO VIVO EM NITERÓI

Live CD of this very good symphonic band from Brazil. It is their first with the new line up that includes another keyboards player and a new singer. The sound is very much 70´s keyboards driven prog music not much unlike ELP (of course), Triumvirat and others. Actually most of the time the band reeks of 70´s music in both musical and lyrical fields. So much one wonders if this record was a reissue of some long lost live recording of that era, even in some instruments timbres (like the Ovation acoustic guitar). Fortunatly the recording quality and overall sound is very modern. Production is crystaline and you can hear each instrument perfectly.

I´m a bit annoyed by the hippie/new age-ish kind of the lyrics, all sung in portuguese. If you can live with that the music itself is quite good, powerful and varied; done by professional players who clearly love what they do and know how to play their instruments backwards. Songwriting is also top notch. Maristella Bessa´s voice is good and fit well in the musical context of the band. There are some great instrumental passages with lots of keyboards solos (mini moog is very used) and guitar. The rhythm section is firm and flexible at the same time. The band seems to be playing together for years!

Conclusion: Tarkus finest CD till now. Those guys do put a great show. If you´re into this kind of progressive music you can go no wrong with this CD. Radical progheads and general music lovers will be delighted! Highly recommended.