Detailed Reviews [Rodolfo Alchourron - 1994/2004 - "Talisman"]

Rodolfo Alchourron (Argentina) - 1994/2004 - "Talisman"
(51 min, Viajero Inmovil)

Prolusion. Rodolfo ALCHOURRON (1934 - 1999) is an Argentinean musician, composer, and conductor (perhaps band-master as well). His official discography is placed below the review. Only the last album by Rodolfo was originally released on CD. "Talisman" was reissued on CD just recently, while the others are LPs, at least for the moment.

Synopsis. I don't speak Spanish, but it's enough to have a look at the title page of Rodolfo's website to understand that as a musician, he was known both as a cellist and a guitarist. According to the CD booklet, Rodolfo plays only guitar on "Talisman". But while I don't hear the parts of violoncello on the album indeed, those of violins, and especially those of accordion and brass, in my view, sound too realistic to be synthetic, while these instruments aren't mentioned in the booklet. Perhaps, something has happened to my ears. Having taken into account that Rodolfo composed all the music for this album, I, however, should mention that his performance mastery can be heard without particular effort only on two tracks: Milonga de los Invisibles and Por Calles de Barrio where, respectively, his solos on an acoustic and both acoustic and electric guitars play a really significant role. In other words, Rodolfo appears on "Talisman" mainly as a conductor. As implied above, the music on most of the tracks here is very polyphonic and is woven of the parts and sounds of various brass, woodwinds, strings, and also piano, drums and bass. All of this concern Arbol de Sirenas, Hola y Adioses, Amigo Nueva, Vola Gorrion (1, 4, & 6) and, in a bit less degree, the aforementioned Milonga de los Invisibles and Por Calles de Barrio (3 & 7), both of which are also notable for guitar-based arrangements, but are less rich in orchestral arrangements than the others. Although the mood is almost exclusively light and romantic, the music is highly complex and is, at the same time, very warm and beautiful. As for the style, despite the rather obvious domination of jazzy textures almost throughout, this is, IMHO, just a unique, peculiar combination of Classical Jazz music and Classical Academic music performed by dints of Jazz-Fusion and Symphonic Art-Rock. (I believe most of you dear readers will agree with me on the matter after you hear the album.) Confliction (2) is the only composition here that somewhat conflicts with the others. It features no string-based orchestral arrangements and is about Jazz-Fusion performed by dints of Classical Jazz music. There are female vocalizations are present on each track, and only Milonga de los Invisibles features a few vocal parts with lyrics in Spanish.

Conclusion. Rodolfo Alchourron's "Talisman" is much to my taste, and I am certain that it will give much pleasure to any profound Prog-lover. This is one of the latest efforts by Rodolfo and is a masterpiece. Then what should we expect from his earlier works, especially those from the '70s? I only hope that the people at the Viajero Inmovil label will continue reissuing on CD the other albums by this remarkable musician.

VM: May 17, 2004