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LiveProg
Sky Architect, M!ndgames &
Anima Mundi
June 18, 2011 - De Lakei, Helmond (NL)
Over the last twenty years Dutch venues organized several great prog
rock festivals. They made it possible for new prog bands to perform on a Dutch
stage. Visiting festivals like Planet Pul (Uden), Day Of Dreams (Zwolle) and ProgPassion
(Zoetermeer) was a real festivity for many prog heads. Other festivals like ProgFarm
(Bakkeveen), Symforce (Tilburg), and the iO Pages Festival (Zoetermeer) kept
the flame burning. However, economic and financial problems and a decreasing
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number of visitors were the main reasons that only a few festivals could survive.
Nowadays, only ProgFarm and the iO Pages Festival manage to continue thanks to
loyal prog die-hards. However, it seems a new festival may be added to this
short list since Marcel Haster, former reviewer for Background Magazine and the
man behind the Live Prog website, succeeded in contracting the Cuban
progressive rock band Anima Mundi for
a single performance in The Netherlands. Together with two other bands - thus
becoming a mini-festival - they performed at the Live Prog Festival at Lakei in
Helmond. Despite the fact that the concert wasn't sold out, the organizers thought
it to be very successful and worth trying again next year.
Sky Architect
Our fellow-countrymen from Sky Architect
had the task to bring the audience in the right mood. I'd seen
them once last year during the P=Progrock Festival (see review) at the same venue.
Then they performed three tracks from their debut album
Excavations Of The Mind
(2010, see review) and a piece meant to be released on their next album.
They especially tried to show the audience how well they master their
instruments, but I noticed hardly any passion or emotions in the band. Well, I
got the same feeling during this gig. Meanwhile the new album
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| Sky Architect, click to enlarge |
A Dying Man's Hymn had been released and
they probably thought that most people in the audience were already familiar
with the content. Therefore they'd chosen to only perform material from the new
album. Lead singer Tom Luchies told
the audience that Sky Architect would perform two pieces from the new album:
A Rustle In The Wind and
Deaths Contraption,
together lasting almost
an hour. The performed music was very elaborate, but from time to time the
audience could enjoy some fine musical moments not only created for people who
fan
cy bands as Gentle Giant,
King Crimson or
Frank Zappa. Especially during the first piece they came up with
some good material. However, I also noticed that not all went smoothly. Right
from the start Wabe Wieringa
had some technical problems with the wires
from his electric guitar and drummer Christiaan Bruin
started his hand-clapping
much too soon, but I guess only few people noticed it. Despite the fact that
the well-performed music contained some fine moments it was for most people
difficult to keep focused until the end of the set. Even the strange hats they
wore couldn't change that. I think these competent musicians demand too much
from their audience. This kind of music with a high complexity factor sounds way
better in a comfortable chair of a living room. Or lying on the couch with your
headphones on and the lights dimmed.
M!ndgames
For most visitors the music of M!ndgames felt more comfortable. These
Belgian musicians had already proved to be a great live band and their
neo-progressive rock style certainly is of an international calibre.
M!ndgames are relatively popular in our
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| King Bart, click to enlarge |
country. Lately I saw them perform at 't Blok in Nieuwerkerk a/d IJssel (see review). During this fine performance they brought The King back alive on stage.
They must have noticed that the audience was impressed by this theatrical
performance. Therefore they had decided to do this act again in Helmond. However,
M!ndgames have much more to offer than playing a stunning version of
Royalty In Jeopardy. A mixture of
songs from their penultimate and latest album
Actors In A Play and MMX (see review) gave
a good impression of what they're capable of. On the one hand I missed the impressive
church organ part from The Statue,
but on the other hand they had included Both
Sides Of The Show
with its fantastic musical climax. M!ndgames really deserved
the encore the people asked for. Destination Sky
ended an excellent live performance. Without derogating from the other
musician's merits, lead singer Bart Schram
proved once more to be a very good singer, performer and entertainer.
He was supported by outstanding musicians who know how to play progressive rock
on a live stage.
Anima Mundi
Someone in the audience shouted 'Cuba libra' when Anima
Mundi took their first steps on a Dutch stage. The musicians loved this slightly
strange, but warm welcome. They seemed to be willing to give a special live
show in return. The band played for a dedicated audience as appeared during the
two-hour performance. Anima Mundi started their concert with
Time To Understand,
the opening tune of their third and latest album
The Way (see review). This piece immediately showed how
competent these musicians are in creating their elaborate music on a live stage.
Lead singer Carlos Sosa reached the high notes without any
problems. He didn't have to scream or make faces to sing the lyrics in a proper
way. He either played Latin percussion instruments and some additional keyboards
showing to be much more than just a singer in the band. Highlight of the opening
tune was band leader Roberto Diaz playing a breathtaking guitar solo;
goosebumps all over! The other songs from the impressive album
The Way could be enjoyed as well
throughout the set, although I wished they had performed some more material
from their second album Jagannath Orbit (see review).
For me, this album is just as strong as The Way.
Therefore I think that songs as We Are The Light
and the title track should have been on the set list as well.
However, they performed great versions of Sanctuary
and Rhythm Of The Spheres which proved
that they could outstandingly perform songs from
Jagannath Orbit as well. On these tracks the female keyboardist
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| Anima Mundi, click to enlarge |
Virginia Peraza showed to be a prominent band member. The way she played
the keyboards often provided for a very nice ambient and mellow sound. Playing
less from Jagannath Orbit meant that
the band could perform some material from their debut album
Septentrión (2002) instead. This album is
less known in Europe and therefore few people know that the lyrics are sung in
the Spanish language. The music also included influences from folk and
traditional Cuban music. Anaisy Gomez was responsible for most of these influences. She left Anima Mundi after
Septentrión had
been released and moved to Spain. However, with her old band doing a European
tour it was rather easy for her to join them again on stage. With her help it was
possible to perform some pieces from the debut album. She played the bagpipes on
La Montana Del Vigir and the recorder on
El Umbral. Both instrumental
tracks sounded superb just as the two encores. The first encore was a new piece
meant to be recorded for their fourth album. I noticed that
Tales From Endless Star needs to be
played more often. While introducing this piece, Mr. Diaz told the audience
that it would contain a nice surprise. When I heard the first notes of that
surprise I understood why it was indicated as Arthur
on the set list. It should have been mentioned
Firth Of Fifth, the classic prog piece written by Genesis.
But putting this title on the set list would have spoiled
this surprise for people in front of the stage who could have a look at the set
list. Roberto Diaz played a fine version of this classic guitar solo of
Steve Hackett, although I have to admit that I witnessed other bands
doing it slightly better. The Polish band Quidam for instance, did an amazing job adding
this guitar solo in their classic piece Sanktuarium.
But anyway, I have no negative remarks at all about the first performance of
Anima Mundi in The Netherlands. Some people already called it the best live
performance of 2011. Well, maybe they're right because they came and conquered
the hearts of the people who stayed 'til two o'clock in the morning. This last remark is in fact the only criticism I have about
this wonderful live event. The organization could have started earlier instead
of kicking off at half past eight with the first act while two more had to
play. I guess it must be possible to start at least two hours earlier on a
Saturday evening and keeping a tight schedule. Hopefully they will consider these
remarks for a possible second edition of this festival next year. Hopefully
Live Prog will become a new recurring yearly festival.
Henri Strik (edited by Peter Willemsen)
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