Anes Rec.        Vytas Brenner : La ofrenda de Vitas Brenner (1973)*****

Perfect combination of prog (compositions and arrangements of electric guitars, electronic instruments, piano) with Latin rhythms and acoustic instruments. A must have. Essential in any prog collection.

Anes Rec.           Vytas Brenner : Hermanos (VEN,1974)***°

Lots of different ideas and approaches. This symphonic one is less defined or clearly idea structured as the previous album, with some more easy folk as well, good electronic/symphonic parts, good rhythms,..and a fantastic Latin American full orchestra band (on track 9).

Description on popsike : "Progadelic instrumental cosmic rock with electric and acoustic guitars, organ, synthesizer, harp, maracas, and a wide variety of other eclectic sounds."

Details : http://www.apiomusic.com/cdcatalog/varios98/cdinfo98/101vytas_1ofrenda.htm

Review  : http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Backstage/8250/yetanother20.html

Small entry on V.Brenner : http://explanation-guide.info/meaning/Vytas-Brenner.html

More info on Vytas Brenner : http://www.sincopa.com/ethnic/artists1/vytas_brenner.htm

& http://www.geocities.com/leon9702002/vytas.htm & http://www.geocities.com/leon9702002/vytas1.htm & http://www.watcher.cl/bandas/vb.html

Label contact : mailto:anesrecords@anesrecords.com

Later group is called "Ofrenda" http://www.borderlinebooks.com/latiname/o1.html

DiscomodaVytas Brenner : Ofrenda (VEN,1975)***'

Still an interesting album. A bit more consistent in fusing different styles.

Details : http://www.apiomusic.com/cdcatalog/varios98/cdinfo98_esp/103vytas_lomaximo_esp.htm

-Vytas Brenner passed away on March 18, 2004.- fanpage on  www.myspace.com/...

Private   Raimund Rodulfo : Suenos / Dreams (VEN,2000)***°

"Dreams" is a multimedia-CD which includes the tale on which the music is based, the related WebPages, in both English and Spanish, and a live in studio video recording. The style is symphonic progressive instrumental on the first track with dense melodies, skilfully and pacefully played (somewhat fusion like) electric guitar accompanied by a progressive rock band : flute, drums, keyboards.. Also the second, more relaxed track -again the guitar has this fusion ability quality- is clearly led by the electric guitar, in duo with the violin and like on the first track with a few touches of more happy Latin American rhythmic melodic aspects within the symphonic rock structure. The third track "Nuevos Horizontes" starts much more modestly with acoustic guitars, flute and violin, like some of the better Spanish groups I know, with very beautiful acoustic guitars, and a well balanced  structural openness. The following track "Tormenta de Ideas" I did not know how to approach it at first for it started quickly with slightly less interesting keyboards, a few more easy beats on the drums, then a jazzbluesrhythmic structure, and an improvising over convoluted electric-guitar, but never the less the total composition gives it some sense. "Tiempos Dificiles" following on has much more extra interesting percussion, a rock flute, some saxophone, latin jazz rock rhythmic skill, virtuoso acoustic guitars and violin. It's been played by a well balanced group with chamber music rock sensebilities. And the composition is structurally interesting too. Great. Oddly structured should be "Matématica y Arte" (Mathematics and Arts) for there Raimundo played with the contraposition of rigid rhythmic patterns combined with jazzrock free improvisation segments. It's an interactive play between automatic mathematical models and creative improvising. Last 22 minute track "Códigos Universales" is the best from all I mentioned before, mostly in a relaxed mode but with the full band. A recommended CD if you like both symphonic and fusion guitar progressive music. But you haven't read or heard anything yet. Check out Raimundo's next album reviewed underneath->.

Private             Raimundo Rodulfo : The Dreams Concerto

    Concerto for guitar, group and chamberorchestra (VEN,2002)****

Raimundo evolved a lot since his first album, and developed various of his ideas as if a dream came true. The compositions are much richer, arranged and performed. A lot of work went into this. Not only because the compositions are richly orchestrated (played by carefully chosen musicians, like Pedro Castillo from Tempano, .. with a beautiful female voice, chamber orchestra) but a lot of attention went also in the booklet. Peter Rodulfo made inspired drawings with each composition. Making Long compositions is not an easy task to preserve spontaneity, but Raimundo succeeds. He also used some mathematical models in this album. The theory is carefully explained in the thick booklet, still without clearly saying how he used the graphic patern included. The mood on this album is no longer symphonic, but more art rock and symphonic art folk. For various reasons very  recommended. Both acoustic guitars as electric guitar playing / arrangements are splendid. Also recommended for those interested in groups like Amarok (Spain/Venezuela) or Baccamarte (Brazil).

The mathematical model, Audio files as well as extra pictures and reviews can be found at Rodulfo's personal website.

Info : www.rodulfo.com & http://www.geocities.com/leon9702002/rodulfo.htm & on myspace www.RaimundoRodulfo.com ; Contact : contact@raimundorodulfo.com  next album->

Musical Mind     Kré : Ruido Doméstico (VEN,2002)****

Latin America really has skilful bands, no matter they that are rarely known in Europe / US. This group plays instrumental music, sometimes a perfect jazzfusion rock with King Crimson like compositions, like on "Doro", but also more jazzrock fusion, like on "Tute Quieto". Mostly the style is an independent, original, well developed blend of jazzfusionrock & progressive rock, until a RIO like style, like on the splendid "Livica", or just moody intrumental progrock, like on "Ornamento". "Ruido Domestico" also has electronic sounds, combined with some guitar loops.

This release is recommended to lovers of jazzfusionprogrock & moody instrumental progressive rock. All compositions are intelligent, with a warm & moody sound.

Details : http://www.sincopa.com/rock_pop/cdinfo_rock/kre_ruido.htm

& http://www.geocities.com/leon9702002/kre.htm ; info : http://www.myspace.com/bandakre

Description from distributor (with soubdfiles): http://www.musicalmind.net/eng/progmind.htm

Soundfiles : http://www.apiomusic.com/cdcatalog/musicalmind/cdinfo1/03kre_ruido.htm

More soundfiles : http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kre

VENEZUELAN PROGRESSIVE (& SYMPHONIC) MUSIC

review page

Tempano ('79+'98,'00,'02)

->Parthenon ('80+'81+'04)

Vytas Brenner ('73,'74,'75)

Raimundo Rudolfo ('00,'02,'03,'04-'08/'09)

Kré ('02)

Musea Rec.     Tempano : The Agony and The Ecstasy (VEN,2002)***°

The first track starts as very skilfully produced neo-progressive rock, close to R.I.O.-style, mostly guitars and drums dominated, somewhat unpretentiously relaxed in mode. The following song "Bonfire" has a large instrumental part, with some more keyboards which flows nicely into "Just in a Second", a song in a style reminding me of the latest White Willow release, which then oddly changes into funky pop. I guess this is possibly how the group did sound between the early progressive records and the rediscovery of the group by Musea Records. Never the less this song is worked out carefully with attention to detail. Also "Piéta" is a mixture of song beautifully arranged electric guitars, and some melodically coloured keyboards. "Attimo Infinito" with Italian vocals by Marcella Mosca works nicely too with its piano, keyboards, rhythm changing percussion, like a small movie or interesting documentary trip in fact. The following two tracks are very filmic too. These tracks are more keyboard dominated, a bit more chaotic leading towards the next track with Yes-like vocals and flowing structured arrangement. Both track 12 and 14 are again very much arranged like the earlier mentioned latest album from White Willow. The track between these two has a very nice idea of beautifully arranged layers of acoustic guitars, flute(s), some keyboards. No track is self-indulgent at all. Only on the last track has an extra effort gone beyond a certain edge ; it is a more psychedelic over the top progressive instrumental, and a very nice end from an album which is in fact quite modest in what it brings and therefore is not so easy to fully grip after one or two listens. Overall a very nice album.

Homepage : http://www.tempano.com/ (with MP3) Contact Band : tempano@tempano.com

Management : Alexis.Lope-Bello@MiamiWWP.com Artist cover artwork : sbassi@cantv.net

On Myspace : http://www.myspace.com/tempano

Review : http://www.gepr.net/ta.html#TEMPANO

More info : http://www.sincopa.com/rock_pop/artist_rock/tempano.htm

& http://www.geocities.com/leon9702002/tempano.htm

Musea Rec.    Tempano : åtabal-Yémal (VEN,1979,1998)****

A very modern sounding jazzy fusion improvisational symphonic rock music with a superb quality of recording and production. Hard to believe this came from '79 and from Venezuela ! A good balance between instruments (el.guitars with some superb riffs, el. bass guitar with very good drive, keyboards : often slightly fusion, with a quality and melodically balanced sound, drums and percussion instruments always perfectly precise, some tracks with vocals. The 5th track is an acoustic song.

("Cascada" soundile here ; titletrack soundfile : here)

The re-release of the original album contains three extra tracks from 1989. These tracks are skilled fusion symphonic prog, "KTR" being more melodic fusion, "Un Nuevo Encuentro" and "Arbol de la Vida" both being somewhat relaxed fusion melodic symphonic prog rock.

Other reviews : http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=1299

& http://www.tempano.com/noty14.html & http://stevehegede.tripod.com/venezuela.htm

& http://www.silverdb.com/MUSIC_DBCDInfo.asp?txtCDID=1145

German review : http://www.babyblaue-seiten.de/...next album->

Private             Raimundo Rodulfo : to LIVE a dream -official bootleg (VEN,2003)***°

With a progressive/art/symphonic group we never know the quality and the amount of spontaneous effect in the group playing live before we actually hear them play live or hear a good live recording. It's clear this group has such a fine tension. First track with art folk tension, various tracks with a chamber folk  fusion and symphonic craftsmanship, with some improvisations of the musicians involved, and one with progressive / symphonic feel. I was especially surprised by the harp / flute / maracas / strangely tuned guitar ? -with "tumbpiano feel" medley. It has some violin / classical guitar and drums at the end. This track, "Esperanza", recorded on Progjazz show, 2002, is a must have heard track. "Suenos" goes beyond the craftsmanship like the symphonic music early Genesis explored, with Latin American female voice, progressive rock guitar, etc. Beautiful.

Playlist (of 2002-09-04) with this item viewable here

Played tracks from this album : 1st movement , 1st movement part 2, 3rd movement part 1

The official 'bootleg 2' I did not review. Of both albums this first one surely is the best.        next->

link : more Venezuelaprog on http://www.myspace.com/venezuelaprog

More info on progressive music from Venezuela :

http://psychemusic.org/VEN_UR_PAR_PROG.html

links updated on this page 2004-07-14

new item added 2005-12-16

Other review pages of Latin American progressive :

review page of new progressive music in Brazil,

review page of new progressive music in Chile

review page of prog/psych in Peru

Questions, remarks, other suggestions ? E-mail the Web Master, Radio Producer

Luna Negra   Parthenon : Mare Tenebris (VEN,1980,1981,2004)****

Parthenon was founded in 1979 by drummer Juan Carlos Ballesta and keyboard player Robert Santamaría. After a few line-up changes and a few concerts, member Víctor Fiol joined Témpano. Shortly after, the band disbanded after some unsuccessful reunions. Robert Santamaría formed Amarok later and moved to Spain. After success with Amarok, Robert decided to re-establish Parthenon to make these recordings.

After slowly getting into the music with keyboard driven melodious symphonic rock, the music enfolds quickly the strength in its core. There are jazzrock-like improvisations and inner power, giving strength of playing beyond composition driven music. The female vocals on the third track gives it additionally an emotional improvisational strength. On the three tracks which are called “Puentes Destrudíos” I recognize beautiful piano, and some group improvisations (as well as hobo and some flamenco rhythms) from a developed Amarok (-I guess its members participated in this-). Last studio track, “Conversaciones entre diversas Criaturas del Inferno” has such attractive, rhythm driven passages with a rock-feeling that are a great example of how strong symphonic rock should be developed. For me, symphonic rock needs a certain level on its performance that gives a feeling of being inspired on the spot by the whole group into one brooding energy. This feeling can also be recognized in the bonus live track. The bonus tracks I guess are slightly destroyed by repetitive hiss by preserving them on cdr, but are still interesting and essentially included. Especially the live recording, as I wrote before, is splendid, because of its hypnotic keyboards, rhythms and band performance. A very fine release.

Info : lunanegr@prodigy.net.mx ;

Audio + info : http://www.myspace.com/parthenonrock

Musea Rec.Tempano : Childhood's End (VEN,2000)****

This release is much more structured and layered than the bonus tracks on the reissue album. The production is highly professional and successful. Most of it is symphonic progressive rock styled, with a balanced group sound. "Timorato" is a bit more keyboard based. "Sin Retorno" is a dynamic prog pop song with a noticable electric guitar solo. "Grillos" is a bit more Fusion styled. The very long track (25 minutes) is skilful to the core, very varied perfectly balanced and produced melodic fusion acrobacy, with a classically refined compositional structure. Also "Escape para el hombre común" contains that qualified complexity. Recommended.

Two tracks were masterfully co-produced by After Crying cellist Peter Pejtsik.

Other review : http://www.progressor.net/review/tempano_2000.html

Remarks : http://www.e-prog.net/bands/tempano.htm

German review : http://www.babyblaue-seiten.de/... next album->

Musea             Raimundo Rodulfo : Mare Terra (VEN/US/SP,2004-2008, pub.2009)***°

Long time ago since I heard from Raimundo Rodulfo. He recorded this new album over a four year period. It also is an extremely ambitious project with lots of instruments, a progressive & neo-progressive/(neo-)symphonic piece stuffed with well arranged to semi-improvised band arrangements. The first piece of 36 minutes is most promising, like I know Raimundo is capable of, but now has even more musicians and instruments at his disposal than ever before, unfolding its ideas with acoustic nylon flamenco guitar, flute, piano, a classical string arrangement, trumpet and vocals, and some electric guitar/keyboards and vocals holding a mood in between the acoustic symphonic music of Los Jaivas and some 70s Italian progressive, with a neo-and jazzy touch here and there. After this the drums/bass/electric guitar parts and fast-melodic keyboards become a more steady part of the arrangements, adding a stuffed and saturating tension, tiring a bit with all its non-stop notes, despite its uplifting effects of jazzy flavours and flamenco castanets. More and more this band becomes a semi-improvised symphonic rock band. When some harpsichord and acoustic guitar part and flute breaks the mood a bit, for me it is a bit too late : I more had the feeling I was glad that they stopped playing. Raimundo with this album showed its full strength (track 1) but also his limitations of wanting too much perhaps. The complete album might not the best starter of his work, but still a welcome addition. Most tracks are just a bit more something for neo-progressive lovers compared to some of his other works. But the first, most perfect track however, of over 36 minutes, is worth alone checking out, and has already the value and perspective of a (great) full album.

Homepage with reviews : http://raimundorodulfo.com/english/fbackeng.htm

& http://www.raimundorodulfo.com/english/mainengl.htm

with this album : http://www.raimundorodulfo.com/english/metengl.htm

& audio : http://www.raimundorodulfo.com/english/audioeng.htm#mett