Detailed Reviews [Cast - 2007 - "Com.Union"]

TRACK LIST: 1. Orogus 4:03 2. Al Bello 3:15 3. Fantasmas Y Demonios 6:09 4. Elfonia 11:16 5. Sensacion Arabe 7:46 6. Damajuana-II 4:48 7. Donde se Visten las Serpientes 7:28 8. El Cojin Verde 5:40 9. Cosas Simples 5:48 10. Hogar Dulce Hogar 3:55 11. Lobos 4:27 12. Io 5:27 LINEUP: Alfonso Vidales - organ, piano, keyboards Pepe Torres - saxophones, clarinet Lupita Acuna - vocals; percussion Dino Brassea - vocals; flute Flavio Miranda - bass Antonio Bringas - drums Claudio Cordero - guitars With: Jose Monje - trumpet, horn

Prolusion. It was not until this year that I became aware of the music of Cast, despite their existence for nearly 30 years. This is a tragedy, as their music deserves to be known to a wider audience. I've been missing out and I'm guessing many of our readers have been, also. The band uses a broad array of instruments, time signatures and styles to create their sound. I'm particularly fascinated by their instrumentation, because it is not often that you encounter clarinet or trumpet in prog, but you'll also hear flute, sax and bagpipes. As all the lyrics and liner notes are in Spanish, I'll make no attempt to comment on these and content myself with the music.

Analysis. After the count to begin, Cast wastes no time in getting down to business. Orogus and Al Bello come out of the starting gate like an energetic racehorse. One acts as an intro for the other in a smooth transition from first to second track. The theme of Orogus is heroic, but intricate in its rhythms, with a fusion feel. Al Bello shifts into a jazzy 4/4 beat. Alfonso's keyboards are central to their sound of Cast, though it is difficult to single out anyone player, as Cast is a very tight ensemble, with all members of a very high caliber. Throughout the album, the spotlight shifts from player to player, but especially Vidales, Bringas and Cordero, shine strongly and provide a triumvirate within the band. I say this with no disrespect to the other players, because as I said, they are all of a high caliber and all make an invaluable contribution to the conglomerate sound that is Cast. Fantasmas Y Demonios (Ghosts and Devils) is a wild ride that gallops along propelled by Antonio's machinegun-like drumming in the fast passages. Vocals are sung by a chorus, rather than by an individual lead; the woodwinds mournfully wail and howl intermittently throughout the song. It there were a Mexican version of the movie Ghostbusters, this might have been on the soundtrack, as it has an eerie timbre, but retains a certain lightness, so that it never becomes overly dark or heavy. Some of the lightning that flashes in this storm would have to be Alfonso's keyboards. Elfonia begins with a chamber-like intro with piano, bass and acoustic guitar. There are some very nice acoustic guitar and flute passages interlaced with stirring electric guitar and bagpipe work. Truly, the piece continues to swirl and mesmerize throughout. There is a sense of swirling winds and great activity with elves hooting with laughter at some unknown hilarity. Piano, bass and acoustic guitar return midway as they began, though the tempo has increased (like a taste of An Evening With John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess), but the players involved with the theme continue trading places, like a frenzied dance in which partners are continually trading off one another. There is almost a Celtic quality to the theme and its repetition, as are Irish dance pieces, but the instrumentation's continual morphing manages to maintain momentum and animation. Sensacion Arabe has a pretty theme played on piano with a sitar-like accompaniment. With the entrance of the vocals, traded between Lupito and the guys, Pepe's clarinet intertwines. Although the title declares this to be an Arabian Sensation, at times the melody and use of the clarinet resemble gypsy or Yiddish music. Dumajuana II is a cheerfully breezy, Latin-jazz infused, instrumental number with a relaxed extended sax solo and contrapuntal trumpet. Donde Se Visten Las Serpientes (Where They Dress the Serpents) is a multi sectioned, vocal driven son. The guitar is used in places as percussion, lightly but rapidly picked along with delicate drum work and swirling woodwinds. Time signatures and instrumentation changes through the song, bring varied moods. El Cojin Verde is a more majestic symphonic piece with some very nice piano and guitar and synthesizer turns. Cosas Simples is rich with vocals, moving between a dramatic male voice and group vocals, including Lupita. Io closes the album with a strong instrumental track, featuring Alfonso's fine piano work and Claudio's guitar.

Conclusion. "Com.Union" is Grade A - Choice New Prog. Cast should be a household name among prog lovers with their varied instrumentation and styles, which continue to demonstrate their virtuosity and versatility after all the years they've been together. "Com.Union" is kaleidoscopic in approach, yet retains a feeling of continuity and consistency throughout the album. There are moments that remind me of Proto-Kaw or Happy the Man or PFM, but never in imitation, simply similarities in instrumentation or key. Being a Latin American band, as they do with Italian or Slavic groups, minor keys figure prominently in the compositions of Cast, which I find particularly beguiling. Within our format at ProgressoR, we like to give a song-by-song description, but I find this particularly difficult with Cast, with the breadth of their instrumentation and stylistic metamorphoses. Suffice it to say, Cast is a very strong band with great versatility. Strong keyboards, guitar and woodwinds (especially flute) are staples of their sound, with vocals moving in and out of single voice to group harmonies. Their sound is well rooted in their part of the world, which is also a large part of the charm of their music. They play so well as an ensemble, that every track is like a highly choreographed dance, with multiple participants swirling and weaving in and out, among the others, so that no one musician dominate, yet each has their time in the limelight. I would recommend the addition of "Com.Union" to enhance any prog collection.

PS. Cast is the host band for the Baja Prog Festival, in their hometown of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico (a couple of hours from San Diego, California, USA). If you ever have the opportunity, I highly recommend attending this 4-day festival, as it is truly an international smorgasbord of progressive rock. Having attended for the first time this past March, I recognize the desert scene and robot character used in the cover art as their landscape and the icon of this year's festival.

KW: September 29, 2006