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THE PROGRESSIVE AND SYMPHONIC IN THE ARGENTINEAN

(1968 - 1980)

A comprehensive trip and quasi-objective.

 

The progressive and symphonic in the national scene, is considerable if we analyze their history in a wide way and without prejudices; rich in groups and diverse as for proposals, we will refer then to the period 1968 (it remits approximately to the origin of the one called rock in Argentina) 1980 (considering the first one generation at international level), and to the bands that published disks in such a lapse.
One of the bands of the trilogy considered pioneer of the rock sung in Spanish, is also the precursor of the first disk that it introduces us to the progressive one in Argentina, Almendra (1969), with its it works premiere, from their fine vocal arrangements that then would be characteristic of this band, going by the beautiful works harmonic in "Muchacha", or "Plegaria Para Un Niño Dormido", until the worked and imposing orchestration with camera arrangements in "Laura Va", they remit us without doubts to the first fact in the matter

for these districts.

"La Biblia" (1971) of Vox Dei, including their later one Ensamble Musical de Buenos Aires, orchestrated version of 1974; it works conceptual of great relief, it is another important point in the route.
After a first work something raw and chaotic in "Aquelarre" (1974), this band offered us three stupendous samples of the gender with "Candiles" (1973), "Brumas" (1974) and "Siesta" (1975), being for mainly "Brumas" a great work, pick without doubts in the production of the group; with changing climates, I calm down in the game of guitars acoustic and voices worked in "Silencio Marginal", expressive and strong in "Mirando Adentro", besides the mini-suite "Brumas en la Bruma" with orchestral arrangements.

Pescado Rabioso; it was a band that in their second disk "Pescado 2" (1973) it offers us touches of progressive something hard in "Iniciado del Alba, Poseido del Alba", or "Madreselva"; play lyrical from the startling church organ that moves us in "Corto" or in the acoustic guitars and voices of "La Cereza del Zar"; and play symphonic with the suite "Cristálída" (of 9 minutes of duration) composed by several "conceptual modules", of intricate poetry and super populated in images, recorded jointly with musicians of the it orchestrates symphonic of the Teatro Colón directed by the same Cutaia, keyboardist of the band.

"Artaud" (1974); that although it was published as Pescado Rabioso for reason contractual of the recording company, it was a virtual album soloist of Luis A. Spinetta; town with acoustic guitars and climates calms, mellow their fine and only poetry; everything in the mark of one it works homage to the multifaceted French artist mentioned in its title.

Another group of net progressive court was Invisible, with its three aIbums, "Invisible" (1974), in ways but strong and you dry off; "Durazno Sangrando" (1974), an inspired conceptual work basically in "The Secret of the Flower of Gold" of Carl Jung, replete work of lyricism, poetry and big instrumental arrangements and vowels; concluding in "El Jardín de los Presentes" (1975), work of sounds more urban. (Characteristic of Buenos Aires)

We arrive then to the year 1975, where the influence of the symphonic one international it impacts in the musicians of our country (and of all parts), it is so they light big bands by the light of Yes and Genesis.

Espiritu and their work "Crisálida" (1975), it is a worthy and eloquent it proves of it, first Argentinean symphonic grouping. "Libre y Natural" (1976), I dial made up of a single suite of but of half hour it is their second work, Then they would arrive "Espiritu" (1982) and "En Movimiento" (1983).

More overturned to hard sides it was the legendary group El Reloj, with their first work that "El Reloj" (1975) went toward the hard-progressive one, on the other hand their second work exploring the hard-symphonic one. "El Reloj Volumen 2" (1976), and later on "La Esencia es la Misma" (1983).

Another excellent symphonic band (for many considered the best), it produced two big disks, "Crucis" (1976), developing songs of worked arrangements, with changes of rhythms; "Todo Tiempo es Posible", "Determinados Espejos"; or you tighten and poetic rough situations - musical in "La Triste Visión del Entierro Propio", their second production "Los Delirios del Mariscal" (1977), fruit of bigger establishment and work of group, with topics but long, as the homonym of 11 minutes, or "Abismo Terrenal" (13min), album of cut but instrumental that the previous one, pick of creativity, We are also in this temporary space, with one very particular grouping, the only one independent, and whose formation was fluctuating, since they worked as cooperative, even with associates (their fans) that pre-paid recordings of their disks, among other particularities; they were denominated Músicos Independientes Argentinos (MIA), that beyond curiosities they created big works. "Transparencias" (1976), rich in arrangements instruments and voices, with the original "Imagen II" that included the one "Preludio Numero 1" of Bach, mini suites as "El Casamiento de Alicia" (in three parts) or "Transparencias" (of 20min).

"Mágicos Juegos del Tiempo" (1977), second work that contained the corals of their extensive one work "Cantata Saturno" besides to publish a book of texts with this, among other songs.

"Cornonstipicum" (1978), creative landmark, more in the tonic of the first I dial, with the homonymous suite of 17minutes.

Finally it would arrive "Conciertos" (1978), a triple disk, high in quality, live engraving in the Teatro Santa María, "very influenced by Yes" as related later years Lito Vitale, keyboardist of the group.

Always inside the fan of the symphonic one, another great expression of the same one, also with two published disks it was "La Máquina de Hacer Pájaros" (1976), with their suite "Ah, Te Vi Entre Las Luces" (12 min.),

it remits us to arrangements quasi of camera, and big works instrumentals.

"Películas" (1977), composed rather finely of songs elaborated as "No Te Dejes Desanimar" (with strings), "Ruta Perdedora" (acoustic bass, organs. etc.).

"Alas" (1976), of the group of equal name of Gustavo Moretto, with its acquaintance fears "Aire", it was another slope with tango roots. Their last album, published years after separate the group was "Pinta Tu Aldea" (1983)

Concluding the kaleidoscope of the 75 mentions to "Homenaje" (1977), I dial soloist of Gustavo Montesano, leader of Crucis, where they mixed in their recording members of La Máquina (García, Fernández), members of Crucis (Farrugia, Marrone, Kerpel), members of Alas (Aznar) among other companies.

The year 76 it presents the disk premiere of the band Polifemo, conduced for David Lebon (Pappo's Blues, Color Humano, Pescado Rabioso, Seru Giran, etc) in guitars and Rinaldo Rafanelli (Former Sui Generis, etc) in bass, "Polifemo" (1976), guided to the rock'n roll more conventional, while its second dial "Polifemo 2" (1977) it offered a style very original symphonic hard.

The year 1978 it affords us many good works, that of the group Bubu "Anabelas" (1978), and the work of the group native of Tucuman, Redd "Tristes Noticias del Imperio" (1978), of influences of the music of Spinetta (Invisible) in their roots who then would publish "Cuentos del Subsuelo" (1979). Year in the one that see the light the disk premiere of the grouping Tantor, conformed starting from the breakup of Aquelarre by two former members, guitarist Hector Starc and the drummer (also former Almendra) Rodolfo García, next to other historical bear (former Pappo's Blues, Invisible, etc) Machi Rufino, with the disk "Tantor" (1979) guided toward the jazz progressive and instrumental rock, of great level, then they would already publish their second and last disk with Torres (Lito Vitale, Socios del Desierto) in bass and Babu Cerviño in keyboards, "Mágico y Natural" (1982).

The last stage of our journey, on the periphery of the eighties, gives us some more bands.

Of the interior of Argentina, county of Santa Fé the group Agnus (been godfather by people of M.I.A.) with their disk "Pinturas y Expresiones" (1980), the band Aucán and their disk "Brotes del Alma" (1980).

"Serú Giran" (1978), premiere of the band of identical name that us gives the suite "Eiti Leda" (of 7 min.), or the topic Serú Girán (of 8 min.) with a letter that Latin combined with an invented language, for which each sentence remitted to a picture in the internal envelope of the vinyl disk, with orchestral treatment. "La Grasa de las Capitales" (1979), with topics of symphonic court as "Los Sobrevivientes", with having achieved orchestration. "Bicicleta" (1980), of urban progressive sound as for example in the instrumental "Bicicleta", or "A los Jóvenes de Ayer". Inside this last urban variety we also include "El Valle Interior" (1980), I work final of Almendra, of varied arrangements vowels for example in "Espejada" and elaborated duets of guitars with Buenos Aires letters in "Las Cosas por Hacer" or "Buen día, día de Sol".

To need to mention Pablo El Enterrador, with their homonymous disk (1983) fruit of years of works in in interior of Argentina (Rosario's city) with a melodic progressive disk with touches of the place.

Gustavo Bolasini

 

 

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