Detailed Review [Perfume De Mujer - 2000 - "El monologo de el caracol"]

Perfume De Mujer (Cuba) - 2000 - "El monologo de el caracol"
(71 min, "Luna Negra")

Line-up: Abel O Perez - keyboards, guitars, drums/percussion, bass, vocals; Igor Medjanic - guitars, percussion

I am well familiar with the creation of only two bands from such an exotic (in many meanings, including 'progressivity' until "Luna Negra" made some wonderful discoveries here) country as Cuba - I mean Musica d'Repuesto, apart from the heroes of this review. But since I've heard also a few compositions from Sebastian El Toro and from Naranja Mecanica (both bands are also from Cuba) from the very first CD released by "LN" and dedicated exclusively to Cuban progressive music, I have already all my reviewer's rights to consider the Cuban Progressive Rock scene as really excellent. But all in all, it is obvious that Perfume De Mujer (Smell Of Woman) with their 3 (4?-!) wonderful albums is an uncontested leader here. This newest PDM album features the only original member Abel, who played all instruments (with some help from Russian guitarist Igor Medjanic) and sang all (only!) the three songs (of 18 compositions in all). Abel has chosen a totally different way of composing, and if both previous PDM albums present an original and brilliant (yet quite traditional) Classic Art Rock, the "El monologo de el caracol" album is undoubtedly close to something like the last opus from the unique Mexican Prog-guy Jose Ledesma "Sol Central". I see the fact of discovering of absolutely new and unique forms of such quite a conservative genre as Rock In Opposition (though, this original 'term-motto' of one of the few innovative and adventurous Prog styles ever created - the term itself is a 'child' of Henry Cow - isn't presently so actual as earlier and its abbreviation RIO, IMO, sounds better) becomes already a traditional phenomenon within the precincts of "Luna Negra". Even though "El monologo de el caracol" has obviously different structures, arrangements, an overall sounding, etc in comparison with the aforementioned album by Jose Fernandex, I can absolutely honestly repeat the words and parabolas I said with regard to Jose's "Sol Central". Although the new work by PDM is much longer than "Sol Central" (playing time 46 min), the latter looks a little more integral. Anyway, all in all, another excellent manifestation of RIO has come to the world and again in the 'maternity hospital' of "Luna Negra".

VM. November 6, 2000