HOLOCAUST

COTO EN PEL were a four piece band out of Spain and they released this one album back in 1978. The Lasers Edge re- issued this on cd in the 90's. I was drawn to this from the first listen, just how understated everything is including the vocals. The title track makes up side two and is divided into two parts and this is where we get a fair amount of mellotron. The guitarist doesn't sound Spanish but I agree with Andy from Planet Mellotron he sounds more like Steve Howe and uses the acoustic guitar quite often. The keyboardist adds organ and synths besides the mellotron and the bass player adds cornet on one track. These guys do like to stretch things out and jam.

"Aura De Sons" is the 13 1/2 minute opener and it starts with some heavy atmosphere as thunder cracks in the distance. Soon the music arrives but it's very distant sounding until around 4 minutes in when they amp it up with intricate guitar, bass and rumbling drums. Guitar solo follows a minute later with jazzy drums. Synths growl 6 minutes in as the bass throbs then the tempo picks up a minute later. Love that bass. Those growly synths remind me of LE ORME. A calm 9 minutes in as spacey synths and vocals lead the way. Organ follows and the vocals will come and go. "Lamentations" is of course sad sounding with acoustic guitar, cornet and melancholic vocals mostly.

"Holocaust" is divided into two parts worth over 18 minutes in total. This is where we get a variety of mellotron sounds, growly and spacey synths along with acoustic and electric guitar and vocals will come and go. This suite is the highlight of the album in my opinion although that opener is right there too. It opens so beautifully with that acoustic guitar as the organ floats in along with some intricate electric guitar. Bass then synths after 2 minutes. Drums and bass are more out front after 4 minutes. So much to like here as those growly synths arrive and the mellotron sounds amazing before 6 minutes. It's very spacey late to end part 1 sounding almost like theremin. Part 2 is more of the same but changed slightly as the mellotron and synths standout and we get a guitar solo late. Vocals again come and go.

I just love listening to this, dig their sound. A strong 4 star album in my opinion and one of the better albums to come out of Spain. My kind of music.