$8.99

TEMPANO left its mark on the unofficial "Great Book Of Progressive Rock" ! Those five exceptional South-American musicians managed to first become famous in the Progressive rock world in the late Seventies, then become pop stars in their country (Venezuela) during the following decade, then be re-discovered by the Progressive rock fans thanks to the Musea reissue of their first album "Atabal-Yemal" (1979) during the Nineties, and finally be crowned as one of the leading and talented "young" bands of the international Progressive rock thanks to "Childhood's End - El Fin de la Infancia" (1999), celebrating thus the end of the millennium ?!?... The first Venezuelan symphonic rock group, TEMPANO has a very personal sound in which superb melodies, complex breaks and very well-written themes reinforce the originality. In this context, "Atabal-Yemal" is a real gem ! Instrumental for the most part (Sung in Spanish for the rest), this CD includes refined melodies evoking RETURN TO FOREVER or CAMEL, the unusual sounds and breaks of HAPPY THE MAN, complex writing ala KING CRIMSON and the creativity of TANTRA, the whole is touched with a typically warm, South American color. The CD also includes three magnificent, previously unreleased pieces, re-recorded in 1998 by the 1979 lineup (Which recorded "Atabal-Yemal"). This rebirth was surprising but pleasurable, all the more so as it resulted in a new album, "Childhood's End - El Fin De La Infancia", at the end of the following year. This opus benefits from the presence of Peter PEJTSIK, the cellist for the Hungarian group AFTER CRYING, and this isn't the only impressive thing about the album. The unparalleled freshness of this music, the brilliance of the arrangements and the perfect interpretation will no doubt make this a landmark album of the year 2000 !... And what to say, about "The Agony And The Ecstasy" (2002), apart that this is the best of TEMPANO filled with maturity ?!? As warm as ever (Of course due to the Latin influences !) and purposefully more melodic than its predecessor, this album definitely shows a personal and truly high class music that benefits from a perfect interpretation. The line-up's Progressive jazz-rock and classically inspired music has never been more comprehensive and varied, both in the structures and in its inspiration. The object's quality in itself is also enhanced thanks to the beautiful reproductions of painting dating back to the Italian Renaissance, that perfectly illustrate the texts (Now in English) printed in the booklet. Another must-have...