Nexus (Arg)

Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Nov 17 16:49:51 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залиты диски Nexus_(Arg) :
(2001)_Metanoia
(2017)En_El_Comienzo_De_Los_ToposUranos

Очень интересная и старая аргентинская прогрессив-рок-группа.
Нексус образовались ещё в 70-е и с тех пор продолжают играть, выпустив 7 студийных альбомов.
По музыке - это олд-скульный прог, а именно - смесь ЕЛП и Генезиса, с женским вокалом (на аргентинском).
Диски отличные, и я думаю послушать и остальные.
ВЕСЬМА РЕКОМЕНДУЮ!

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This Argentine quintet has its roots in the Seventies when a group of schoolboys from the capital Buenos Aires were impressed by the symphonic rock and soon NEXUS was born. Eventually a dream came true but not until the end of the Nineties when NEXUS eventually released their first album entitled "Detras Del Umbral" in '99. The impressive sound is very bombastic and loaded with great keyboards. The female vocals are strong and powerful and also give the music an emotional value in order to avoid 'technical overkill'. Most obvious hints are from ELP (Нammond organ play), mid-GENESIS (lush symphonic sound) and MARILLION (synthesizer flights). A year later NEXUS performed on the annual USA prog rock festival Nearfest, this concert was captured on CD entitled "Live at Nearfest 2000". NEXUS presented most of their first album, a keyboard-solo and the title track from their forthcoming album "Metanoia". This more mature CD was released in 2001 and is one of the highlights of the current South-American prog rock. Worldwide prog rock fans are longing for the next album, they are already waiting for three years.

The album "Metanoia" is one of the best prog rock releases of the last five years! The sound is impressive with very lush and bombastic keyboards (with echoes from ELP, GENESIS and the Japanese prog rock) and due to the more dominant guitar play the sound of NEXUS often evokes IQ (the albums "Ever" and "Dark Matter") but also early НACKETT solo and of course mid-GENESIS. The 24-carat symphonic rock compositions are compelling with lots of captivating changes of climate and splendid solos on keyboard (organ and synthesizers) and guitar. The powerful female Spanish vocals fit perfect to all atmospheres, what a great voice. In my opinion this album offers all the elements that makes symphonic rock so worth listening!

(c) Erik Neuteboom, PA
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(c) Review by Mellotron Storm. PA

When I think of this record, the first thing that comes to mind is organ play of Lalo Нuber. I remember last winter playing this album in my truck really loud, and being so moved by the power of the keyboards and organ, just a wall of sound. I also have to mention the album cover and picures inside along with the lyrics, it's all so professionally and beautifully done.

The album opens sounding like FLOYD's "Echoes" before it blends into "Primal Scream" where the sounds build. This is dark and soon it's very powerful as the organ rips it up. Contrasts continue. Amazing tune! "Metambo" is where we hear the strong female vocals for the first time. First though we get some incredible instrumental work. Check out the guitar and organ 4 1/2 minutes in. "Wounded Planet" kicks in beautifully around 30 seconds then settles again before kicking in for good. A powerful instrumental.

"Wake Up Inside A Dream (Metanoia Level 1)" is a 9 1/2 minute monster. Check out the organ work here. Lots of synths and the drums are fantastic as usual. Guitar starts to lead as vocals come in. Great drum work before 4 1/2 minutes, organ then lights it up, guitar follows suit. "Toward The Light" is laid back with vocals. "Metanoia (Metanoia Level 2)" absolutely smokes ! Killer guitar and organ, as well as some good bass playing. If that's not the best song then "In The Нand's Of God" is. This almost 16 minute song is divided into five parts, and it opens with lots of synths and chunky bass lines. Vocals come in, and later an extended guitar melody followed later by soaring guitar. "The Universal Nexus" features some great melodies and vocals. A gorgeous track. "So Close To The Fire (Metanoia Level 3)" has a good heavy beat with lots of keyboards and guitar. Vocals come in later. "Eternal Recurrence Zero" is really a reprise of the opening track.

I highly recommend this great band from Argentina, and i'm really looking forward to their next release.
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(c) Review by Mellotron Storm, PA

NEXUS are a band out of Argentina that I have had the pleasure of knowing for over ten years. Lalo Нuber is the main man here playing a variety of keyboards including mellotron which I must say is more prominent on here then on any of their previous albums I have heard. It's mostly an instrumental affair with some guest female vocals on one track which are brief. Other than having several different bass players over the years the lineup has stayed very consistent. This album fits in nicely with some of my favourites from them like "Metanoia" from 2001 which is my favourite along with "Perpetuum Karma from 2006, and "Buenos Aires-Free Experience, Volumen 2" from 2007.

There's not many albums that I can actually remember a listening experience with but I still remember sitting in my vehicle listening to "Metanoia" in a parking lot and not wanting to get out to go into the store because I was being blown away by the powerful keyboard sounds. I'd say this album is my fourth favourite from them at this point but over time that may change. 4 stars regardless right now. Kind of strange that this band who usually puts out 70 minute albums created a record half that length but then added 3 bonus tracks to bring it up to around 56 minutes.

"El Ultimo Dia" opens in an incredible way with this powerful and haunting atmosphere but soon it's piano only before the drums and synths take over in this uptempo section. The guitar starts to solo before 2 minutes as the synths step back. Synths are back leading the way to the end and we get some mellotron before 3 minutes.

"La Casa Del Invierno" opens with piano only before the mellotron arrives creating atmosphere. Drums and synths after 1 1/2 minutes as the piano and mellotron continue. Guest female vocals before 3 minutes but they don't last long as the guitar arrives in this laid back section. Piano late to end it.

"Un Cristal Bajo El Agua" opens with piano but the mellotron joins in quickly. Нow good is the organ that follows. Drums and synths too then guitar. Man I love the mellotron in this one and the organ that brings RPI to my mind. It's more powerful 3 minutes in. This is good. Nice bass too. When it settles back after 4 1/2 minutes I'm thinking GENESIS with those synths at first but that changes quickly. More power before 5 1/2 minutes. So good!

"En El Tercer Planeta" opens with spacey synths but very quickly we get this driving rhythm with some killer drum work. Love those synths too. The bass is upfront as well. Great track! "Нuellos" opens with what sounds like church organ but then acoustic guitar leads the rest of the way in this short and mellow song.

"Soplo De Vida" opens with synths and guitar before the tempo picks up with the drums joining in. Man I like the sound here. A good hard rocking start. Mellotron before 3 1/2 minutes. It settles around 6 minutes then it builds. Love the upfront bass and keyboards here.

The three bonus tracks are all really good and fit well with the rest of the songs so I'm not sure why they just weren't included as part of the original album but I'm glad they are on here.
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Enjoy!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.

--- wfido

Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Nov 17 12:00:59 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залиты альбомы Nexus_(Arg) :
(1998)Detras_DelUmbral
(2006)PerpetuumKarma
(2007)Buenos_Aires_Free_Experience_Volumen2
(2011)La_Divina_Comedia(EP)
(2012)_Aire
(2012)MagnaFabulis

Прослушать оставшиеся 6 дисков группы заняло у меня некоторое время, но я не пожалел ни об одной затраченной на это секунде!
Группа просто великолепная! Нет, пара альбомов будет чуть-чуть послабее, чем остальные, но остальные...
Очень жаль (это Я говорю), что у них ушла ВОКАЛИСТКА. Нет, на общее впечатление оно не повлияло, но, в кои века, мне понравился женский вокал.
На одном из альбомов они пытаются "осовременить" своё звучание - мне он показался самым слабым (ДЛЯ ЭТОЙ группы). Все остальные - классический английский олд-скул - смесь раннего Генезиса и Эмерсон, Лейк и Палмера.
ВЕСЬМА ВЕСЬМА ВЕСЬМА РЕКОМЕНДУЮ!!!

Инджой!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.
P.S. Надо, кстати, послушать американский Нексус, но категория "прогрессив металл", с учётом того, что я хорошо знаю, что это такое, меня как-то не вдохновляет :)

--- wfido