Detailed Review ["Luna Negra Records" - Overall View, Part I - Cuban Prog in 1995]

"Luna Negra" - Overall View, Part I
"VARIACIONES EN LA CUERDA" (Cuban Prog in 1995)
(60 min, CD-LN-01)

Performers:
Sebastian El Toro (Sebastian is Sebastian...)
Perfume De Mujer (Smell Of Woman)
Naranja Mecanica (Mechanical Orange)
Musica D'Repuesto (Music of Rebellion)

Prologue. So, presently already well-known and established Mexican Premier Progressive Rock label "Luna Negra" was formed in 1996 and its first (CD/CC, as always) release was really revolutionary not in the only meaning of the word.

The album. This compilation CD contains a dozen of unique and, thanks to their exceptionally distinct originality, truly revolutionary compositions by MUSICA D'REPUESTO, PERFUME DE MUJER, Naranja Mecanica and Sebastian El Toro. And "Luna Negra" is still the only label that discovered for us the excellent Progressive Rock scene of Cuba - the island of revolution. So, as this release, in all meanings very unexpected yet as wonderful as the fact of discovery of America by Columbus, was the very first step by a new label, all in all, this was a really revolutionary debut, and none of the other existing labels started that grandly. You'll read the reviews of Musica D'Repuesto's and Perfume De Mujer albums later, so a few words about both other bands from this CD. Though all the four Cuban bands have, in some ways, a bit similar stylistic directions of their creation, actually each is more different from the others than many other RIO, or better to say, RIO-sounding bands, especially Perfume De Mujer, as only these Cubans have the whole discography and each their new album is perhaps radically different from its predecessor. Back to Naranja Mecanica and Sebastian El Toro, both these performers also work on the really (RIO-ally?) endless "fields" of RIO and each of them goes their own innovative way. "Luna Negra" in general and the bands working under the flag of Cuba and the banner of "Black Moon" in particular, as well as the other "LN" bands of the same genre, show an excellent example of rejecting all the traditional cliches and cultivating / nurturing on the roots of RIO another new Tree, all branches of which are as different among themselves as "Luna Negra" itself is different from another true 'head-quarter' of RIO "Cuneiform". Finally, I think RIO will be if not today but already in the near future another genre addition to the three "whales" that bear the weight of our Progressive Music.

Summary (simple yet strong). The best compilation CD I ever heard.

VM. November 15, 2000