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 TRACK LIST: 1. Cancion para un pequeflo ladron 7:03 2. No eras vos no era yo 3:13 3. Ella es tu hermana 6:09 4. Mi magico amigo 4:37 5. Una estela sin final 4:07 6. Blanto de un atardecer 4:12 7. Escapatoria 5:29 All tracks: by Marti & Arbe, except 3 & 6: Marti, 2: Arbe & Pezzolano, 7: Arbe. LINE-UP: Eduardo Marti - - Spanish & acoustic guitars; - viola; percussion; vocals Hugo Arbe - - electric, acoustic, & Spanish guitars; - viola; percussion; vocals Miguel Pezzolano - - flute; percussion; vocals With: Pedro Botti - piano & organ Emilio Del Guercio - bass Rodolfo Garcia - drums & percussion Hector Starc - electric guitar Engineered by C. Piriz at "ION", Buenos Aires. Co-produced by Trova / Viajero Inmovil.
Prolusion.
Pacifico was a short-lived progressive band from Argentina. They released only one LP, "La Bella Epoca" (1972), which is now reissued on CD. As well as all the other releases of Viajero Inmovil Records, the album represents the reduced, yet, exact copy of a 'classic' four-page LP with an original insert (in addition). To have a more clear idea of the label's production, remember the structure and design of such LPs as Pink Floyd's "Animals" and Genesis's "A Trick of the Tail".
Synopsis. Synopsis. It's wonderful that at the time of heyday of the Progressive Rock genre, there were really great bands not only in Europe and the USA, but also in the other regions of our planet, including Argentina, which, to all appearances, was then richer in Prog talent than any other South American country. "La Bella Epoca" presents seven songs with Spanish lyrics, all of which, surprisingly, have an immediate English feel to them. Nevertheless, this fact doesn't run counter to the pronounced originality of Pacifico's music, which is as unique, distinctive, and impressive as that of any of the bands we used to call Titans. Apart from the lead vocal lines, each song contains very beautiful three-voice chorals. The acoustic instruments: two guitars, flute, and piano (sometimes also viola and percussion) play a prominent role in the arrangements throughout the album, and only the longest three tracks here feature the parts of electric instruments (guitar, bass, and organ) and those of drums. These are Cancion para un pequeflo ladron, Ella es tu hermana, and Escapatoria (1, 3, & 7), and all of them represent an amazingly diverse and complex Symphonic Art-Rock with elements of Folk music (which is certainly not of a Spanish origin) and the alternation of intensive and mild, yet, always constantly developing arrangements. The other four songs: No eras vos no era yo, Mi magico amigo, Una estela sin final, and Blanto de un atardecer (2, 4, 5, & 6) consist of purely acoustic structures and are about a blend of Symphonic Art-Rock and Folk music Although there are repetitions of the vocal parts on these songs, all of them are filled with unique, soft, and very touching melodies. Besides, the instrumental arrangements here are as inventive and diverse as those on the tracks I've described first, so there is nothing that may seem to be missed. Conclusion. I believe Pacifico's "La Bella Epoca" will be a revelation for most, if not all, of the lovers of Classic Progressive, and especially those feeling nostalgic about a genuinely honest progressive sound of the old 'n' gold seventies. Still, Viajero Inmovil remains the only label of which not a single release has disappointed me so far. VM: September 12, 2003 Related Links:
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