EN LOS LIMITES DEL BARRIO

OK, this is basically Sintesis first pure prog-straight rock effort after embarking in the fusion of rock and african chants (not counting EL HOMBRE EXTRANO recording with singer/songwriter Silvio Rodriguez of 1991) .

After the two very succesfull ANCESTROS albums (I & II), Carlos Alfonso and Ele Valdés sought the need to go back to basics and with the new and vigorating driving force of their son Equis (X) Alfonso (already felt in his involvement in writing, playing and singing in the second ANCESTROS recording), they came up with this VERY GOOD album.

There is very little time to get bored on this album: from the strong opening number "En los límites del Barrio" were X Alfonso sings the very fast life in the "barrio" (spanish word for neibourhood) to the beautiful finale "Habrá un lugar?" with the expressive and captivating voice of Fidel García, this recording just passes to quick for me. . . I enjoy it so much that when I notice it, its over. . .

"Amalia" was the first promoted song and video of the album, where Ele Valdés shows us that, after almost 20 years in the business, she still has a lot to offer with her voice; "Por un momento" slows down the pace a little bit again with Fidel García enchanting us with his "falsseto"; Carlos Alfonso takes center stage singing the strong "El viejo y sus sueños" that has a very povwerful guitar lead; the slow "Pasos" gives the floor to "Vale dos querer" where Carlos Alfonso again take leads vocals and give the bass role to keyboardist Esteban Puebla, who actually does a very good job there.

X Alfonso is at again with "Todo por dinero", a powefull straight-forward rock again in the "barrio" theme; "En otro mundo" by Ele gives way to the collectively sang "Por esperar" a ballad where again Fidelito takes a prominent role. Maybe the weakest song on the album is "Se marcharon" but Carlos Alfonso does a aceptable job on singing it and the album closes with the very potent "El errante" (my applause to the lead guitarist here, strong work. . . I promise I'll look up his name).

Despite the frequent personnel changes, this formation of Sintesis (have to find what Mark is it), almost the same from the ANCESTROS II album shows a very good musicianship, a very together sound. . . my thumps up to Pineda on drums (it's a shame he's no longer with the group) superb drummer and X Alfonso for his all-around playing and multi- instrumentistism (he would later on leave Sintesis to persue a very suucessfull - until today - solo carear).

So, there you have it. . . it shows I'm a Sintesis fan and a huge fan of this album. . . I strongly recommend this one.

Up the Proggers!!!

Songo (Alfredo, Havana, Cuba)