AI TENCARGO

3.5 stars. BANDA ELASTICA had a nice consistent career beginning with their 1987 debut and ending(so I thought) with their sixth recording from 2003. Well this seven piece band out of Mexico surprised me and a lot of people by releasing an album in 2021. I'm not sure if they just felt there was unfinished business or maybe they are back on the bus. Most mention HENRY COW, MIRIODOR and Frank Zappa when it comes to this band's sound.

After their energetic and ethnic filled debut they really hit their stride with "Banda Elastica 2" my favourite, where they slow things down some and allow some space, plus they reduced the traditional sounding stuff. This sixth record is different again. No keyboards which is strange, plus we now have three sax players. A seven piece who decided this time to cover music by various modern composers instead of creating their own music. The results in my opinion are better than the debut but a step down from that second release.

My three favourite tracks are the ones where the flute, not the sax leads the way. That short 2 minute third song which is the first of a three part suite for the flute creating atmosphere. "Banda 1" at 7 1/2 minutes is pretty impressive. Just so much going on much of the time, plus we get space. Some rare inventive guitar on this one plus plenty of sax and flute. I really like the drumming on this one as well. Last top three is the opening section of "Three Pieces" at 4 1/2 minutes for a rare dark track with haunting atmosphere. Sparse is the word.

Still, this is very much a hit and miss affair with that second song "Azul Ocre" being an example of them going where I don't want to go, and that's the world of smooth sax. More hit than miss this one, but not in the league of their second album, and not quite 4 stars.