EXSIMIO

Chilean ensemble Exsimio is one of the most energetic and charismatic South American bands around: their KC-meets-Primus influenced ballsy vibe and solid interplaying skills definitely make them deserve a high position in the prog map. Their pallet includes obvious traces of jazz-rock, metallic rock and funky, but I guess that the aforesaid bands are enough to provide an approximate idea in the neophyte's mind. Their eponymous debut album is an amazing catalogue of neurotic rock explosions and explosive textures, mostly based on the dual guitar and bass counterpoints, but also containing brilliant dynamics shared by the riffs and rhythm section and the disturbing guitar solos that emerge to the fore now and then. The parallel development of sonic storms by all three stringed instruments are powerful enough to offer a challenge for the proficient drummer Fernando Jaramillo: his tight foundations and inventive rolling making him a nuclear item at keeping a focus for the band's overall sound. At the same time, you can tell that most of the time there is a cleverly managed constraint in this exhibition of power, since the guitarists never get to indulge themselves into endless pyrotechnics. The show-off is more usual in Pérez's complex bass lines and harmonies ('Ensueño' being a perfect example), which conform the element of relatedness to Primus in Exsimio's music. It seems as if the arrangements were disposed to allow the bass be featured to a degree between the two guitars, and definitely, the human material involved in the line-up makes it work quite right. Some numbers are subtly ethereal, but most of the time the ambience tends to be somber and furious: the full repertoire's inner contrast is generally leaning more toward the harder side of prog. The few tracks with lyrics are more recited than sung, which makes them more evidently testimonial than literally lyrical - by the way, let me add that the messages are charged with left-handed political views. The setlist is so compact and consistent that it is really difficult to make a one-by-one review or pick faves; anyway, let me confess that 'Baretta', 'Ensueño' (recited lyrics taken from Commander Carlos' manifesto), '6 Segundos de Silencio' and the stunning closer 'Angelmandinga' are the most appealing numbers to me. With a band whose impetuous energy is perfectly matched by its talent you can't go wrong: the Crimson influence is very spread in the bolder side of Chilean prog, and this quartet happens to be one of its most accomplished incarnations. "Exsimio" is a must for any decent experimental prog collection and Exsimio is a band to pay close attention to.