Mar de Robles - MdR. 2003 Chile

In the early 2000s there were a number of exciting bands coming from the southern cone of South America. One of the best of those groups was Chile's Mar de Robles. Their debut is an amalgamation of various complex progressive rock forms to make for a fascinating listen. Right from the get go, after the theme setting sound collage, Mar De Robles introduces us to a half a dozen different types of prog within the opening seconds. Imagine a cross between Bubu and a Spanish singing Deus Ex Machina. This is dense, busy, but ultimately warm music. The woodwinds of flute and sax make the difference here. The guitar is a mix of heavy psychedelic, melodic progressive, and occasional metal. Other guideposts include the indigenous sounds of Los Jaivas, the next generation of that sound as represented by Flor de Loto, and even the obscure American group Atavism of Twilight, considering the flute lead. An excellent album throughout that landed a +1 listen for me last night.

Ownership: CD: 2003 Mylodon. Jewel case release with fold out booklet. Purchased in 2005. This remains the only pressing of the album.

7//05; 10/9/23 (new entry)

Los Jaivas. 1975 Chile

For many years I thought this album was all about the final track and the rest wasn't to be bothered with. Not sure how I missed all the great music here, but walked away with a +1 listen last night. Certainly Los Jaivas by this point in their career had toned down their rhetoric, and moved more towards the indigenous sounds of the region. Panpipes are definitely present and some of the music does recall walking European capitals and watching men in traditional garb looking for spare change. But it's far more than that, especially on 'Guajira Cósmica' and 'La Conquistada' which both recall Italian prog at their most pastoral. Similar to fellow countrymen Los Blops perhaps. And yes, that does get us to the finale 'Tarka y Ocarina' which is indeed a whopper - a track for the ages. The opening third recalls Ash Ra Tempel's debut with its thunderous drumming and ripping heavy psychedelic guitar - quite a jarring sound in this setting. The remainder is like a piano concerto gone mad, and certainly ELP or any number of their Italian equivalents like Metamorfosi or Triade come to mind. Overall a fantastic work, one of Chile's best from this era. And it should be noted they were in exile in Argentina during this period, escaping the recent Pinochet dictatorship.

Ownership: LP: 1975 EMI (Argentina). Beautiful gatefold. Acquired this from a reliable Argentina based mail order dealer (1996). It's been a long time since I looked at the value of this record, but it's skyrocketed, worth 7 times what I had it noted for (even though there are many original pressings from different countries). Good to know, though I'm not selling it.

1996 (first listen); 9/15/22 (review/new entry)

Massacre - s/t. 1989 Chile

Massacre's debut album is something very strange - for the era and the location (1989 Chile). If you don't get past the first song then you'd think that you'd stumbled onto some chugging metal album with Spanish vocals. 'Temblor del Cielo' follows with mellotron. OK then. A strange mix of thrash, heavy metal, screaming vocals, spacey keyboards (synthesizers, organ, mellotron), fusion, prog, and whatever else popped into their nutty heads. It's definitely progressive metal, but not in the way the term has come to mean. You couldn't be further away from Dream Theater than this. And of course they close with a metal cover of Los Jaivas' 'Todos Juntos'. Wow. Overall a gritty, odd, not always satisfying, but undeniably fascinating album. One of a kind, that's for sure.

LP: 1989 Oso
CD: 1998 Toxic

The original LP came out on Oso Records in 1989. I had it once, but sold it off (it was already rare in the 90s) when the CD came out. Now that CD is rare too... Easy to see why. Not a typical album.

CD sold: June 2019. Received too good an offer to pass up.

Exsimio - Carbono 14. 2005 Chile

Chilean band Exsimio play in that style of guitar-centered, tightly played, aggressive instrumental rock that one can find in bands such as Philharmonie, Yang, or even some of Djam Karet’s work. And, by extension, the Court of King Fripp is what’s really behind this band’s mindset. Elements from Red to Discipline era KC can be picked up. Perhaps best of all is the psychedelic nature of the guitar solos, giving the overall proceedings an exotic and raw feel. Interesting to note that the tracks with Spanish narration remind me a bit of the Italians, somewhat like Latte e Miele or Pholas Dactylus in that way. All the same, the strict and narrow confines of the musical path chosen begins to become tiresome after awhile. Still a fine album, though the band said what they needed to say at the beginning. The rest was more of the same message.

Personal collection
CD: 2005 Mylodon

Last listen: November 25, 2017

Mar de Robles - Indigena. 2007 Chile

From the opening notes of 'Chucaro', one could be fooled that Mar de Robles' sophomore effort is to be some kind of Dream Theater like instrumental prog metal album. And while that element remains present throughout, there's also a strong fusion element at play here, with the addition of sax (lightly used) and ripping electric guitar solos and complex meters. In addition to that - and where the real separation comes for Mar de Robles - is the incorporation of the indigenous landscape of South America. Rain sticks, tribal percussion, and a plethora of sights and sounds are then added with that patented "European Warm Progressive Rock" style including soft flute and beautiful melodies. I find Mar De Robles to be a unique group operating on otherwise familiar terrain. They're not as inward looking as Peru's Flor de Loto, or some metal mutation of Los Jaivas, nor are they some generic bland instrumental prog metal unit looking to show off their chops. They are a fusion metal folk prog hybrid unlike any other. Well worth seeking out if looking for something different in an all too crowded field.

Ownership: 2007 Mylodon (CD). Acquired in 2007.

4/23/07; 9/14/17 (review)

Bandhada ~ Chile

Bandhada (1984)

Very much in the Gotic school of Mediterranean influenced jazz rock. Flute is the predominant melody instrument, as if Jeremy Steig played in a late 70’s Spanish progressive rock band. Or one from Quebec. Great songwriting throughout, only drawbacks being the use of early 80’s synthesizers and electric drums. If only this had Moog and Fender Rhodes instead of Yamaha’s, this would be a slam dunk classic**. The two live tracks have a rawer quality in the instrumentation, which is especially nice to hear considering the guitar department.

** - Ah, what the hell... Despite this potential shortcoming - it's still a classic.

Ownership: 2004 Mylodon (CD)

4//05 (review); 5/19/11; 2/18/17 (update / new entry);

Los Jaivas (El Volantin). 1971 Chile

I can now see why Pinochet's dictatorship was scared of this group (which resulted in their ultimate expulsion). This is a long way from the measured progressive rock of Alturas de Machu Picchu that would arrive a decade later. El Volantin is what I would call freak rock, maybe along the lines of Denmark's Furekåben commune, or perhaps even the political wing of Amon Duul. Most of the material is tribal drumming, (de)tuned percussion, acoustic guitar strumming, piano, with male and female vocals chanted or screamed on top, and not the best recording either. There’s also some pan flute so you don’t forget that this is indeed a band of the Andes. The last track is really something great – with wild fuzz guitar and frantic vocals. The whole thing is a complete mess… had it come out today I wouldn't be impressed at all (fake counterculture doesn't work for me). But for the time and place (1971 Chile), this just reeks of the real subversive underground. You can just feel it. This is a serious work of civil protest. Awesome really.

Ownership: LP: 2005 Shadoks. Single sleeve. Numbered copy 125 (out of 350). 

Originals are extremely rare and come with a poster. According to one ebay auction: "The group released El Volantin privately. The music on this album was almost completely derived from improvisations, and can be considered as a performance of a "happening". It was pretty wild and free. From 20 hours of work only 40 minutes were used for publication. There were only 500 albums printed, and were sold at their gigs and in some "friend´s record stores"".

11/5/16 (review/new entry)

Hominido - Estirpe Litica. 2014 Chile

Hominido was formed from the ashes of Le Desooorden, the fine Chilean group that we've featured in the past. Hominido features the rhythm section of the prior group, along with a new guitarist, and guests on violin and trumpet (also former Le Desooorden alumni). Most importantly they've recruited a female vocalist, thus giving the band its most distinctive quality from their previous endeavor. And I appreciate that she sings in her native Spanish. Hominido follows a similar path of crafting music that is highly creative, with a strong penchant for mixing of genres - but with a modern progressive sound, most notable in the extensive use of metal guitar. Perhaps most impressive is Hominido's dedication to diversity. On "Estirpe Litica" one will encounter the sounds of India ('Shalagram Shila'); Arabia ('Simun'); instrumental jazz/metal fusion ('Eterno Retorno'); ambient tropical ('Mi  Roca Interna'); progressive rock (title track); and atmospheric lounge ('Salar'). I was less impressed by the more straight-up prog metal like 'Cabeza de Piedra', 'Insano Devenir', and 'Adoquines Queretanos'. I had secretly hoped that 'Magma' would be Zeuhl influenced, but no such luck, though it's a fine neo psychedelic track in its own right, so yet one more style emerges.

For those who enjoy high minded concept albums, Hominido states that "Estirpe Litica" is a: "Conceptual album shows, through music, the ancestral relationship of humans with stones, narrating the changes that this causes them to be used in countless everyday situations related to the construction of homes, temples, worship elements tools, defense of rivers, major roads pavement ancient, aqueducts, etc." 

Overall Hominido has carried on the Le Desooorden legacy quite well. Those looking for adventurous progressive rock music and who tend to favor genre cutting, will find much to enjoy here. Recommended.

Ownership: CD: 2014 private

9/3/14 (new entry)

Blops - s/t (Locomotora). 1974 Chile

Blops' third self-titled album, later titled "Locomotora" (and with a different cover), is primarily an instrumental rock album with flute, piano, organ, and fuzz guitar providing the lead work. Not particularly complex, but also not as kitschy as some of the Italian instrumental psychedelic albums like Blue Phantom or Underground Set. There are some wordless voices peppered throughout that add an exotic vibe. Perhaps this is South America's equivalent to the French band Catharsis, though Blops appear to have more of a jazz background that they apply to their improvisations. Highly recommended if you enjoy the rougher analog tones of the early 70s, and for fans of flute driven rock. You can put me down as such for those categories.

LP: 2011 Acme (UK)

The top cover (single sleeve) is the original, while the second one came along later - some say it was originally a pirate edition, others say it was a legit reissue. Details are sketchy, but for certain it's not the original. Shadoks went forward with the latter cover (and secondary title of Locomotora) for its LP and CD box sets. The Acme LP reissue replicates the original cover. It's a brick, with no other information, and muddy sound. Not the best reissue, but it's the only version of the album I own at this time.

Quarks ~ Chile

Elemental (2013)

Quarks are an electronic trio from Chile, with most of the instrumentalists having a progressive rock background (namely SETI, Subterra, Caamora, and Taurus). On Elements, they pay homage to classic Tangerine Dream. Here, we have two keyboardists and a third on electric guitar just like Froese and company. I was hoping for a mid 1970's Virgin era Mellotron and Moog Sequencer romp with psychedelic leads, but rather Quarks decided to feature electronic percussion and a decidedly more modern era keyboard sound. So it's like discovering a lost 1982 era Tangerine Dream recording instead. Certainly one can do worse than that, so most assuredly fans of the early 80s TD albums will find much to celebrate here (Pergamon anyone?). I do think it's all quite good, though it does seem it's been done before. But I'm all for an excellent reproduction. Quarks does a fine job at that. And with three protagonists, it does avoid the monolithic nature of the multitude of solo acts in this field today.

I'd be curious if the band takes this concept further, and makes full advantage of utilizing the electric guitar within an electronic music setting.  Similar to Radio Massacre International or early Redshift perhaps.

This remains my sole electronic album from South America.

Ownership: 2013 Mylodon (CD). Booklet with photos and recording details. Acquired in 2014.

2/5/14 (review / new entry); 7/6/25

La Desooorden - Ciudad de Papel. 2007 Chile

La Desooorden are very much a modern progressive band, that utilize current production techniques as well as some dark, atonal metal guitar. So elements of Tool and Porcupine Tree can be discerned on a quick glance. That alone would not make an A-list group, but underneath this superficial view, we find a group exploring all aspects of exciting music. You find Latin percussion, jazzy bits, RIO inspired avant progressive, folk melodies, early 70s Italian progressive rock and a host of other exciting ideas. The list of instruments utilized would take forever to type out. La Desooorden are an intriguing, complex and deep group - a group that reveals something different with each listen.

Ownership: CD: 2007 private

The CD is a private release with no catalog number. It's a beautiful package with a tri-foldout digipak and a nice insert.

2008; 8/28/12 (new entry); 8/15/17