Rayuela's sole album is a fine example of combining the laid back Latin / Mediterranean style of pastoral progressive rock with that of the edgier jazz fusion fad that had swept through the Southern Cone region during this era. Where there's separation, however, is the high quotient of melodic interplay, giving it that strong symphonic feel. 'Los Ultimos Grillos' is an absolute stunner, clearly operating within the Celeste / Errata Corrige school of Italian soft progressive rock. Side 2 is decidedly more jazz rock, and B2 is yet another 5 star track. On A4, Rayuela extends their stylistic brush a bit too far - an awkward singer songwriter blues number, right from the Louisiana bayou, complete with harmonica. One keeps hoping for a some gruff vocals and a blast of hard rock guitar. But no Jumbo here unfortunately. Otherwise, the instrumental tracks are well executed, and the guitar/sax playing here is superb, along with the passionate vocals. It's like stumbling over some lost Italian reels from 1975. Excellent album.
Ownership: LP: 1977 Orfeo. Gatefold. Purchased from a good friend of the UMR (2017).
This replaced the first copy I purchased from an unscrupulous dealer in Argentina who sold us a much more wrecked copy than what they had photo'd in ebay.
Reissued on CD by Fonocal in 2024.
5/31/07 (first listen / review); 3/16/14; 6/23/21 (update / new entry)
No comments:
Post a Comment