Review published in Gothic Paradise on March, 28, 2016, about our latest album “En Directo 2015”. Thank you very much!!
After silence for a couple of years from this project it was a great pleasure to receive word of this new release. I’m not usually a fan of “live” albums where the band just captures a bunch of tracks from one or two given live performances. Once in a while you get a gem out of these like The Cure’s live version of “A Forest” and other similar treats. However, I was very pleased to see that while you still get the applause from the audience mixed in with the tracks, the actual songs themselves are clear and pure with no added background nosie, echo, muffling or distortion from the live recording or venue. It is simply a clear and pure acoustic set of beautiful music performed to perfection and absolutely magical that will have true classical musicians and fans swooning as you listen. In fact, the other added bonus is that you can watch this entire performance on a companion DVD that is well recorded, capturing the artists in all their splendor and the music as clear as ever, mixed perfectly for a really nice touch.
On this new classical masterpiece we have a great selection of tracks, spanning thirteen pieces and lasting about an hour. As you watch the video and / or listen to the music, you can get the feeling of being there in the intimate venue as the stunning music permeates the soul. We have a selection of all new music not appearing on previous releases as well as those we’ve enjoyed before, some with a slightly different twist to them in this live venue. “Viajes” starts off the album and if you’re watching the video you get the information that this nine-minute track is actually three different movements, each beautiful and moving as the sweet piano remains the anchor while the caressing cello and weeping oboe come together and are moved along by the subtle and somber percussion. This provides a great introduction to the album and opens and sets the stage for the magical hour that is to follow.
The album is comprised of one dreamy neo-classical piece after another with some standing out as favorites as with previous releases. For those looking for a familiar sound on this live album, we’re treated with “Omnia” and “Progresiva” a few tracks in as their familiar melody rings out in captivating style. “El Cantar de las Hojas” is one of those familiar, yet presented slightly different than we’ve heard before with spoken word at the beginning before the lilting vocals pick up and hold the listener entranced throughout the rest of the song. The final piece that rings familiar is “Inner Chaos” with it’s appropriate name as the intensity picks up with this piece across driving soundscapes.
Favorites among the newly introduced pieces are hard to single out as the entire album is full of one great masterpiece after another. We have the inclusion of vocal pieces like before with the inclusion of a definite favorite in “Furor Et Luctus” as Beatriz’s siren-like vocals come out enchanting and beautiful as a perfect mix with the spellbinding music. After a few familiar tunes we’re presented with the hauntingly simplistic “Drops”. This sweet tune is a pure piano solo showcasing Olga’s talent and flawless technique for a hypnotic journey through a minimal yet spellbinding soundscape. “Trisology” quickly stood out as a favorite from the first time listening to the album with all of the captivating attributes of soft and dreamy cello and oboe underpinning the sweet piano melodies. “Sola Dryas” stands out as a sweet little celtic inspired tune with the addition of the flute / recorder as well as the oboe and cello with the inclusion of Beatriz’s haunting vocals. The album ebbs and flows over more masterpieces and finally comes to a close with “Hidden Faces” serving as a sort of finale with dark and ominous broken piano chords providing the backdrop for the somber cello and oboe, all building to a dynamic climax with the percussion adding the final punctuation to it all.
There you have it, another neo-classical masterpiece created in a way that is memorable and a new classic for our collection. Be sure to check it out, this is definitely something for fans to really enjoy.
Rating: 5/5
