progressive rock
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I've been listening to this album quite a few times now, each time a bit frozen in thoughts about what to write about it. This particular opening paragraph is the fourth one I started and I promised myself it would be the last one too. Sometimes it's hard to start a review, regardless of the quality of the music. Sometimes it just seems impossible to kick it off, my mind has to go into multi-task mode and crashes a bit. Whenever that happens, I go for a little smoke outside.
Well, since the opening paragraph is ready now, let's go on to this majestic album by Santiago, Chile based progressive rock band Bauda. The band was formed as a solo-project by guitarist/vocalist César Márquez in 2006. Yet, after years of struggling with the cons of being a solo act, Bauda evolved into a complete band in 2012. A year later, in 2013 that is, they started working on 'Sporelights', the band's third album.
They invited Rene Rutten from Dutch legends The Gathering to produce the album. For nearly two years, Bauda and Rutten worked together and the result is astonishing. You can almost feel a Gathering presence on this album, which is loaded with cinematic and atmosphere keyboards, firm but gently guitars and energetic drums. 'Sporelights' dwells in the gloomy region of the music industry, the one where Anathema, Porcupine Tree and a loads of post-rock bands dwell.
But there's more. In a genre like progressive rock, you often encounter bands like Dream Theater, and here it's no different. Perhaps Bauda aren't as metal-bound as them but the epic feel certainly is present. Other quite impressive names that come to mind are Radiohead, Pink Floyd and even Massive Attack, the latter mainly because of the dynamics. I also hear flashes of Tangerine Dream here, mostly in the used electronics.
The album is loaded with atmosphere and has a brilliant conceptual feel, which makes it quite hard to pick out favorite songs. 'Vigil' certainly is one and so is 'Tectonic Cells', an epic piece of modern progressive music. The whole album is, which certainly means something coming from someone who often feels that progressive rock is unnecessary complex. The songs on 'Sporelights' are somewhat complex but remain highly immersive.
My advice, buy it, it's a simple as that. Well, that is, if you're a progressive rock fan who loves atmosphere, dynamics and energy in mostly quite slow music. This certainly is a highlight in that particular genre, and not only because Rene Rutten is involved but mostly because Bauda is a damn talented band. So check it out now, while I go outside for that smoke...
Serge
Well, since the opening paragraph is ready now, let's go on to this majestic album by Santiago, Chile based progressive rock band Bauda. The band was formed as a solo-project by guitarist/vocalist César Márquez in 2006. Yet, after years of struggling with the cons of being a solo act, Bauda evolved into a complete band in 2012. A year later, in 2013 that is, they started working on 'Sporelights', the band's third album.
They invited Rene Rutten from Dutch legends The Gathering to produce the album. For nearly two years, Bauda and Rutten worked together and the result is astonishing. You can almost feel a Gathering presence on this album, which is loaded with cinematic and atmosphere keyboards, firm but gently guitars and energetic drums. 'Sporelights' dwells in the gloomy region of the music industry, the one where Anathema, Porcupine Tree and a loads of post-rock bands dwell.
But there's more. In a genre like progressive rock, you often encounter bands like Dream Theater, and here it's no different. Perhaps Bauda aren't as metal-bound as them but the epic feel certainly is present. Other quite impressive names that come to mind are Radiohead, Pink Floyd and even Massive Attack, the latter mainly because of the dynamics. I also hear flashes of Tangerine Dream here, mostly in the used electronics.
The album is loaded with atmosphere and has a brilliant conceptual feel, which makes it quite hard to pick out favorite songs. 'Vigil' certainly is one and so is 'Tectonic Cells', an epic piece of modern progressive music. The whole album is, which certainly means something coming from someone who often feels that progressive rock is unnecessary complex. The songs on 'Sporelights' are somewhat complex but remain highly immersive.
My advice, buy it, it's a simple as that. Well, that is, if you're a progressive rock fan who loves atmosphere, dynamics and energy in mostly quite slow music. This certainly is a highlight in that particular genre, and not only because Rene Rutten is involved but mostly because Bauda is a damn talented band. So check it out now, while I go outside for that smoke...
Serge
