CUATRO VISIONES

It is not a secret that I love supporting my countrymen projects, and mostly when they really have something wonderful to share, like this time happens with Arteria. This new project features a couple of Mexican progressive rock monsters such as Juan Carlos Ruiz and Víctor Baldovinos, who have been playing for years in different bands such as Nazca and Iconoclasta (among others), and is complemented by the talent of Adolfo Zaragoza and Mari Carmen Graue.

In 2011 Arteria released their debut album entitled "Cuatro Visiones", which features ten compositions that make a total time of 53 minutes full of first-class RIO.

It starts with "La sentencia" which since the beginning produces a tense atmosphere, which later will be complemented by guitars, drums and bassoon. After a couple of minutes the intensity slows down a little bit, however, the atmosphere is still somber and nervous, reflecting a kind of desolated world. "Fragmentos cortados" is a great track with very good arrangements. The avant-garde compositions and the inherent RIO tune is here from start to end. The bassoon produces different nuances, while the guitar, drums and piano complement this chaotic mood.

"Lo inexistente" has a slow-tempo rhythm in which the bassoon plays once again the main role, putting the textures in the atmosphere while a raw guitar add its tune; later the cello also joins and creates new nuances. I love the inner changes this song produces, because despite in moments seems to lose direction, it actually doesn't, I mean, the chaos created in the different passages are short pieces that complete the puzzle, so each moment of this track is necessary to its development.

"Cuatro Visiones" has a more intense rhythm, with a repetitive structure at first but at the same time, with an addictive sound. Seconds later it slows down, the guitar puts once again nervousness and then vanishes, when it happens, drums, cello and bassoon play at the same time, showing a good craftsmanship. After a couple of minutes guitar take the leadership again, and accompanied by some nice bass lines create a somber, yet powerful moment. Later new changes are built up here, letting us know the great compositional skills of the band. What I love, is how their music produces images, colours and stories, which kind?, that depends on you.

The longest composition comes next with "Partes de una botella" with eight minutes length. The guitar may take your attention, but it is worth mentioning that the drums are very important here, with a stronger sound that produces a different feeling. After a couple of minutes the style changes considerably, with a passage where the rhythm becomes friendlier, but it only lasts for a moment because then the music turns again to its avant- garde, tense and chaotic style where bassoon and cello greatly interplay The percussion in this track is wonderful, and that can be appreciated once again after four and a half minutes where it accompanies and shelters the guitar craziness. Excellent track!

"Marcha fúnebre" has actually that feeling of a funeral time, and a ritual at the same time. The drums are repetitive but addictive, the mood is somber once again, and the bassoon is accurate as usual. The surprising thing in this track is that just before the second minute it drastically changes and becomes weird, crazy with some soundscapes while a chaos is created by all the musicians. "Lo que no está muerto" starts with piano making a kind of terror ? like tune. Despite its short time, just like the previous track, the band manages to divide it in two halves. Here n the first one we will find a uncertain sound, like improvisations, while the second one has a more elaborated and complex structure. Worth mentioning the cello work here, which is quite good.

"Mi pulso" is the shortest track with only three minutes, however, it is an example that a few time can produce several emotions and share a variety of textures. "El hijo de Bernardo" takes the programming that was previously used as background in previous tracks. Later cello, bassoon, drums and guitar enter together and create a kind of gentle but tense atmosphere. After three minutes we have a very cool passage where the guitar shows off with a long riff.

The last track of the album is "Un lament y dos danzas", which makes me thing about our roots and about the situation we have in our country now, lamentable, actually. The music flows, creating different atmospheres and emotions but always with a dark and somber feeling. After five minutes it changes and implements repetitive electronic drums accompanied first by bass, and later by guitar and cello. It follows like this until the very end.

What an impressive album by Arteria, one more example that here in Mexico we do have first-class music made by trained and talented musicians. If you are into RIO and avant- garde, then you must get this record, I guarantee you will love it. Final grade, 4.5, rounded up to 5 stars!

Enjoy it!

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