Albatros - Mundo Bosque

(CD 2014, 42:53, Mylodon Records)

The tracks:
  1- El Nombre Del Mundo Es Bosque(6:11)
  2- Hijos De Los Hombres(6:08)
  3- El Hombre Anciano(5:36)
  4- Caminante De Luz(5:24)
  5- Tardis(5:27)
  6- Ende(5:40)
  7- Cómo Estás Cuando Estás Bien(8:27)



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During an interview for a Dutch progrock magazine with this interesting new Spanish progrock formation, one of the members told me that I was the first non-Spanish reviewer who wrote about Albatros. Well, in the late seventies I stumbled upon the Spanish trio Triana that speerheaded the Prog Andaluz movement, including bands like Medina Azahara, Cai, Azahar, Alameda and recently Calle Silvio. From that moment gradually I turned into a huge fan of the Spanish progrock. In my eternal Spanish prog quest, I am often searching on The Spanish Progressive Rock Page for interesting early and new progrock bands. On that specialized website one day I noticed many positive words about Albatros' debut CD Pentadelia, shortly after the release in 2008 (in 2002 Albatros produced the demo CD entitled Quién Colgó A Los Lobos). I decided to order Pentadelia immediately. When I got it and played Pentadelia at home, I was blown away. Such exciting, dynamic and pretty original progrock! In 2011 Albatros released their second album named Ursus (see review). I needed a bit more time to get into this album, but in the end I came to the conclusion that Albatros had released another strong and original progrock album. Especially the final composition on Ursus gives me goose bumps, due to a mind blowing duel between the vocoder and Arabian sounding synthesizer. To me it sounds like “Peter Frampton goes psych Andaluz”!

Late 2014 Albatros released their third CD entitled Mundo Bosque, on the Chilean progrock label Mylodon Records. After a few listening sessions my conclusion is that Albatros sounds like ... Albatros. Although I notice elements of known bands (especially early Pink Floyd), in my opinion again Albatros have succeeded to develop an sound of their own . The best examples of the typical Albatros sound are Hijos De Los Hombres (propulsive rhythm with inventive work on guitar and keyboards), Caminante De Luz (mid-tempo with fiery guitar and lots of Hammond organ) and the strongly built up and dynamic final composition Cómo Estás Cuando Estás Bien (alternating with warm vocals, howling slide guitar and a varied keyboard sound). The captivating instrumental track Tardis delivers an omnipresent Fender Rhodes electric piano sound, along sensitive electric guitar. In contrast, the following Ende sounds song-oriented, a bit polished but with wonderful, very sensitive electric guitar work. My conclusion: the great thing about Albatros is that they present us progheads an original and adventurous sound, in the strong Spanish progrock tradition, from Smash, Franklin, Crack and Triana to Dr. No, Bijou, Senogul and Taifa.

In comparison to the two previous albums a bit less adventurous and experimental, in my view. But listening to Albatros remains an exciting musical experience, also on this new album. Check out if you are up to discover interesting, genuine new progressive rock!

***+ Erik Neuteboom (edited by Astrid de Ronde)

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