EN EL PRINCIPIO

Music is often most appropriately judged not by its own shifts but by its ability to move the listener, and this is especially the case for the all instrumental, largely acoustic "En el Principo" by Chilean band "Sur Pacifico". Signed by the twin acoustic guitars of Marcos Ribas and Ismael Cortez and Paulette Joui on violoncello, with subtle shadings on electric guitar, banjo and flute, their lone album draws comparisons to CALIFORNIA GUITAR TRIO and a few of the more skilled "new acoustic" artists that plied their trade in the 1980s, such as ALEX DE GRASSI. The Latin character almost imperceptibly colours the canvas here and there, which the band may have done well to accentuate further, and not every track picks the listener up at the station. But when this succeeds it's sublime, such as on the spirited and sumptuous title cut, the angular and even angry "Conexion Espiritu", the vivacious "Jungla en el cielo", and the stately "Surfing". While I didn't really want to mention JADE WARRIOR, the distorted elegance and economy in the ambiance on tracks like "Surfing", with its greater emphasis on electric guitar, do recall that nigh forgotten duo. While this might not make the desert island disk list for most of us, you could do worse than have it at hand for your next actual or virtual trip to the South Pacific.