FLOTANDO EN EL VACIO

From Uruguay to the world, Beledo has returned with a new studio album released in 2024 via Moonjune Records, in which he delights us with complex but organic sounds that embrace Spanish culture, as well as some western nuances from both Europe and America. For this album he shares credits with experienced Spanish musicians Jorge Pardo on sax and flute, and Carles Benavent on bass, as well as talented Israelian drummer Asaf Sirkis, with the addition of Gary Husband in 3 tracks and Ramón Echegaray on one track.

The title of the album is 'Flotando en el vacío', which features 8 mid to long songs that make a total time of 74 minutes of top-notch jazz fusion, prog rock, flamenco music. It opens with 'Djelem, Djelem' which is an anthem of Romanian Gypsies that has been played by countless artists, and here, Beledo and company decided to pay tribute by creating their own and unique version. With 'Rauleando' they give us a kind of prog-rock-jazz-folk track where flute stands out, but where strings and drums also play crucial roles, all together offer wonderful rounds of exquisiteness, with a sound that might take us back to the 70s, but still refreshing and far from being old-fashioned. Benavent's solos are amazing, I really appreciate the episodes the band becomes his and those strong bass notes embrace us.

'De tardecita' is a great long album in which Gary Husband is featured, adding his delightful keyboard playing in a track that reminds me a bit of Weather Report or some jazz fusion Gods such as Allan Holdsworth or John Abercrombie. I love Beledo's performance here, letting us know his amazing and profound guitar skills that goes beyond technique, because he is capable of producing emotions, of touching us. While the minutes pass the song delivers endless elements, figures and nuances created by all the musicians, music for our senses in a trip through the jazz fusion realm. This is one of my favorite tracks off the album.

With the title-track 'Flotando en el vacío' the journey through great jazz fusion, prog and folk music continues, with a faster rhythm that might make you move your head. Their creativity has no boundaries, which is why we can notice some quite interesting changes in notes, figures, mood and tempo, however, though the episodes can work as isolated parts, when assembled the result is a quite strong composition, a unit that produces several emotions to our human mind and body. Love it. 'Es prohibeix blasfemar' is a very nice jam where jazz fusion and avant-garde meet, eight minutes in which the musicians are free to create and perform, where they show they musicianship and understanding, because no matter each one of them is playing something different, in the end it all sound assembly.

'Candombesque' brings a joyful energy, great guitar riffs, delicious bass lines and delicate piano and drums notes, I like how easy to dig this is, so any person who likes good music would surely receive this song with open arms. This song is the shortest one and, maybe, the catchiest one, but don't take this comment as pejorative, it is a great song with a gentle rhythm that will make you shake your body a little bit. Then it comes 'From Within', another great track that show their musicianship and high quality as composers and performers, I thank them for taking us to a diversity of cultures and rhythms and make us enjoy, because I, at least, never felt bored or tired, on the contrary, my enthusiasm kept up while the songs flew.

And finally, the gigantic 'Rodeados' closes this extraordinary album. Over 16 minutes of a great performance where Gary Husband puts his elegancy and even guidance in some passages. Improvisation, disambiguation, cohesion, all words that fit in this track, concepts that pursue and reach goals planned by these exquisite musicians who really know how to create countless nuances with their instruments and of course, their souls. There are some moments when you will move your head and body, others where you will feel like floating, others where uncertainty appear, and others where the path is clear and you will work straight to it, the path to glory and joy.

Congrats to the so talented Beledo on this great album, I've been enjoying it a lot since the first time I listened to it.

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