During the years I have had several albums to review from this interesting Peruvian formation named Flor De Loto. In early 2006 I wrote about their eponymous debut album. "This is unique progressive rock from Peru, it sounds as a pleasant combination of ethnic music (mainly flutes) and rock music (electric guitar), sometimes with echoes from Los Jaivas but without keyboards and harder-edged. The rhythm-section plays fluent and adventurous, the interplay between the flutes (pan - and traverse flute) and the guitar is strong." And in 2018 I wrote about their 10th studio-album named Eclipse. "Good news from Peru, highly recommended to fans of prog folk who are into rock guitars and heavy atmospheres." And now, early 2025 I received the new Flor De Loto CD entitled Cosmos, their 12th studio-album, it features two guest singers, Mike DiMeo (ex-Riot) and Ray Alder (Fates Warning), along the current band members Alonso Herrera (vocals and guitar), Alejandro Jarrin (bass), Sergio Checho Cuadros (flute) and Alvaro Escobar (drums). On this new album Flor De Loto delivers a lot of propulsive beats (mid and up-tempo), between melodic - and hardrock (backed by thunderous drums), embellished with powerful native vocals, rock guitar (fiery and heavy soli) and sparkling flute work. The frequent use of Andean flutes, along with some guitars, gives the music a pleasant folky flavour. At some moments the climates tend to sound a bit similar but Flor De Loto also present some nice variety: the instrumental Exodo with soaring flute, a swirling Hammond organ solo in Ahorita Voy, and the Andean flutes and guitar, halfway blended with rock, in Sobrevivire. My highlight is the final mid-long composition Crossfire. First a tender piano intro, then a melodic rock/AOR atmosphere featuring inspired English duo-vocals and moving electric guitar. Halfway the mood shifts to mellow featuring again tender piano, and the distinctive soaring Andean flute. Then a long and wonderfully build-up guitar solo, from sensitive to howling and fiery, blended with piano, wow! Finally, the mood turns into bombastic with a sparkling flute solo, trademark Flor De Loto sound. Another good and solid effort by Flor De Loto on this new album, personally I would have loved a little more keyboards and varied tracks like Crossfire. ***+ Erik Neuteboom (edited by Dave Smith) Where to buy? |
