Arion - Arion (2001)

Un muy buen disco es el que resube Sandy en su gran trabajo resubiendo discos de bandas brasileras. Un disco que dió que hablar cuando lo publicamos en su momento. Les recomiendo que le peguen al menos una escuchada porque está muy bueno, y es muy difícil de conseguir.

Artista: Arion
Álbum: Arion
Año: 2001
Género: Rock progresivo sinfónico / Neo-progresivo
Duración: 62:38
Nacionalidad: Brasil

Lista de Temas:
1. Eyes Of Time
2. Daybreak Child
3. True Love
4. Land Of Dreams
5. Cosmic Touch
6. Everyway
7. Natureza Mística

Alineación:
- Tânia Braz / vocals
- Carlos Linhares / bass & acoustic guitar
- Sérgio Paolucci / keyboards
- Nelson Rosa / drums
- Luciano Soares / guitars
Guests musicians:
Thyaga / voice
Alexandre Reis / percussion

Con influencias de Yes, IQ, Pendragon. Sí, hay algunas referencias importantes, creo que la principal es el Magenta. No sólo porque algunos de los riffs son casi estafas del álbum "Revolutions", sino porque además tiene esa mezcla de sinfónico y Neo-prog que a uno lo hace dudar del estilo al que corresponde el trabajo. En todo caso, Arion es una espectacular banda brasilera de progresivo sinfónico con inclinación neo y un solo trabajo hasta el momento, o por lo menos que yo sepa, soy humano y no me entero de todo, no soy omnipresente, por suerte tampoco "omniausente" (perdón a quienes no entienden la cita). Eso me hace pensar a todas las bandas que no hemos traído, cuanto trabajo nos falta!. Pero otra vez me voy por las ramas del rizoma. Y si no saben que es un rizoma lean a Deleuze, brutos.
Sigo, sigo.
En principio, no hay que confundirlos con un grupo metalero del mismo nombre, estos tipos fueron teloneros de Focus en la gira por Brasil el 2002. Y no es para menos, tienen un alto nivel de maestría musical y una excelente voz femenina aunque lamentablemente cantan en inglés, salvo el último tema "Naturaleza Mística" con el cual el álbum alcanza su punto culminante, esa canción es cantada en portugués. Sus composiciones no son demasiado complejas pero tienen arreglos creativos y un sonido muy atractivo.
El álbum "Arion" fue lanzado originalmente en pequeña escala y loes aseguro que me fue difícil conseguirlo, hace rato que estaba tras él más que nada porque me lo habían recomendado. Tiene siete composiciones melódicas de muy buen gusto, pero magistrales interpretados de parte de la voz de Tania Braz. Atención con esta chica.
Y atención con la última canción, la única cantada en portugués, porque además es alternanda y sorprendente, desde las voces y percusión nativas a una guitarra aullando en solitario los sonidos de la naturaleza. Esta es una banda de rock progresivo que suena prometedor y es muy agradable, pero ojo que si le buscan más su propio estilo, algo como lo que hicieron en esta última canción, porque puede ser grandioso. "Natureza mística" es una canción hermosa y admirable, donde además podemos escuchar al cantante masculino, y la forma en que la canción fluye y el tema utilizado son una clara referencia a otra gran banda brasileña: Sagrado Corazón da Terra.

No hay muchos comentarios del álbum que estén en castellano, creo que ninguno en realidad, dejo algunos comentarios publicados en Progarchives y algo en portugués:

O grupo, inicialmente batizado de Magma, surgiu em 1993 na cidade universitária de Viçosa (MG), onde realizou diversos shows, participou de especiais para a televisão e passou a ter um maior respaldo junto ao público, tendo se apresentado também em Belo Horizonte. Já contando com um instrumental refinado, a Banda adquiriu sua identidade atual com a entrada da cantora Tânia Braz, musicista formada em composição pela Escola de Música da UFMG.
O CD apresenta seis composições inéditas de membros da banda e uma releitura da canção "Natureza Mística" do compositor e poeta Thyaga (onde ele próprio canta). Sem dúvida, a voz de Tânia (extremamente talentosa por sinal) e a guitarra de Luciano são os pontos fortes do disco.
O baixo de Carlos é competente (preste atenção nos solos em Freteless). A bateria de Nelson faz a marcação, não ficando no ritmo quadrado todo o tempo e os teclados de Sérgio estão bons, mas em alguns momentos parecem estar um pouco baixos, não comprometendo o resultado final do disco. Prestem atenção também na percussão de Alexandre Reis. Assim como outras bandas, optaram por letras no idioma inglês (e uma apenas no português, no caso "Natureza Mística"). O responsável pela produção foi Gauguin (já tocou no Sagrado e produziu o Skank).

A Música que vem de Minas

Clearly, to me this was the album of that year! A great symphonic prog band with strong classical, jazz and brazilian music influences and a very unique female singer. The CD has a good production and the band has 3 distinctive, gifted songwriters. Tight musicanship and creative arrangements. great guitar solos. I specially liked the use of vintage keyboards (Hammond Organ, Mini Moog) as well as the grand piano and other synthesizers. Fans of classic 70's bands (Renaissance, Yes, ELP, etc) will be delighted.
I had the opportunity to see this band live twice and I was amazed to hear them playing all the album songs with cirurgical precision. When they opened for Focus on the dutch group brazilian tour of 2002 I heard many people in the audience moaning (their displeasure to hear an unknown opening act). After the first song they got a standing ovation and when they left the stage 45 minutes later nobody seemed too anxious to hear the main act. It's a pity they haven't release anything new since then. I can only hope Arion get back together soon and bring us something as strong as their debut. I recommend it to anyone who likes fine symphonic prog music.

Tarcisio Moura

Arion is a new five piece band from Brazil, this is their debut-CD. In general the sound on the seven tasteful and melodic compositions shift flowing from dreamy to bombastic featuring warm female English vocals, lots of fiery electric guitar work and varied, subtle keyboard play. My two highlights are Eyes Of Time (dynamic with wonderful keyboard work on Minimoog and Grand piano and a bombastic eruption with a sensitive Rothery-like guitar solo) and Natureza Mistica (alternating and surprising, from the native vocals and propulsive percussion to a howling guitar solo and nature sounds). This is a promising and very pleasant sounding progrock band but (still) not on the level of other new bands like French Nemo, Argentine Nexus or Spanish Kotobel. And although I hear elements from Seventies inspired symphonic prog like Yes, ELP (the keyboard player wears an ELP t- shirt on the back cover) and Renaissance, in my opinion the balance is a bit more on music in the vein of neo-prog like early Marillion. Anyway, I am curious to more reviews about this wonderful music, they deserve more attention!

Erik Neuteboom

This is an album that requires a few listens to fully appreciate. Although the band are symphonic they have strong Neo leanings. What struck me first, was the high standard of musicianship in this band. (The guitarist and keyboardist in particular)
The bass guitar stands out in the mix which is very important for me. You can hear a lot of intricate basslines. The guitarist has that soaring emotional sound, similar to the best Neo guitarists (if not actually better!)
I wasn´t too sure about the English classical vocals in the beginning, but gradually they grew on me. Tania Braz has an amazing voice, but my only slight complaint is the emphasis on singing in the Queen´s English.
This debut album will not only be appreciated by Symphonic fans, but by Neo fans too. The more you listen, the better it gets. An excellent debut!

Greg

I was informed by my PA collegue and friend Tarcisio Maura about this Brazilian band and he got me curious so I decided to check it out. I'm glad I did because if I wouldn't have I would have missed out on a masterpiece for that's what it appeared to be in my opinion. After a few listenings I wasn't too convinced yet because this is very complex music, at least the compostions are. Not that I have a problem with that, on the contrary: I love difficult compositions if only they are melodic as well. Well, this album proved to be a feast of melody so that's two big advantages.
First track Eyes of time is immediately a very good example of last statement. This track starts instrumentally for about 3 or 4 minutes and these minutes are a prelude for what can be expected for the rest of the album. Guitar, piano and keyboards and an orchestral feel most of the time are the ingredients of this highly enjoyable album. They are duelling all the time about who does best but most of all they fit very well together as a great band usually does. And there's of course the singing of Tania Braz to complete the picture. The lady does a very fine job all along doing various kind of singing like scat singing (Daybreak Child) and with last track Natureza Mistica she appears to sing in two different languages as well (English and Portuguese). Sometimes resembling Annie Haslam (2nd track) and sometimes like an opera singer or other (semi) classical-like examples.
Three last tracks have in common that they start ballad-like but get more energetic later on which tells me that this band is too temperamental to play a ballad all along. Of course that's just my personal interpretation about it but it struck me that this happened three times in a row.
But what struck me most in the end is that this album is without any weaknesses at least without weak songs. I couldn't detect one for sure. And that's why this is a masterpiece to me. From first till last minute sheer enjoyment, impeccable performing and what's most important for me and is usually the reason to give five stars: great compositions. Simply Brazilian prog at its best !

Henk van der Hoff

This is an album that requires a few listens to fully appreciate. Although the band are symphonic they have strong Neo leanings. What struck me first, was the high standard of musicianship in this band. (The guitarist and keyboardist in particular)
The bass guitar stands out in the mix which is very important for me. You can hear a lot of intricate basslines. The guitarist has that soaring emotional sound, similar to the best Neo guitarists (if not actually better!)
I wasn´t too sure about the English classical vocals in the beginning, but gradually they grew on me. Tania Braz has an amazing voice, but my only slight complaint is the emphasis on singing in the Queen´s English.
This debut album will not only be appreciated by Symphonic fans, but by Neo fans too. The more you listen, the better it gets. An excellent debut!

Greg

Psst, a little secret for prog groups that originate from outside the UK epicenter...feel free to weave your indigenous influences into your progressive quilt. Some bands have gotten this message, particularly in the Basque region and Scandinavia. May I add the Brazilians to this elite group? The example before us is that of ARION, whose lone 2001 release pays homage to RENAISSANCE (both editions) and YES, incorporates modern symphonic influences, and subtly but unmistakably infuses some of their own rich and ancient heritage throughout this impressive debut.
It is true that Tania Braz sings in an overly enunciated English, and Portuguese might have been a better choice, but the sound is still so far from generic neo or symphonic. The more I hear this the more I like it, and these accolades extend especially to the longer compositions, the profound "Eyes of Time" which channels the two RENAISSANCE's through a more energetic transformation full of lush organs and soaring leads. Modern groups in a similar vein, like IONA and KARNATAKA, would do well to pay attention to the many shades and textures in "Daybreak Child", "True Love" and "Land of Dreams", and to the production that so delicately plucks out each instrument from the mix to find its own level. There is no waste here, no overstimulation of the senses, just a peaceful music-induced euphoria.
The album reaches its peak with the closer "Natureza Mistica", sung in Portuguese and perhaps an indigenous Brazilian language, wherein the group makes a not so subtle point about its sense of place. I would like to hear more in this style from Arion.
Even if the album lags with two more aimless and yet predictable patterns in "Cosmic Touch" and "Everyway", ARION will have most of us fans of symphonic and folk in raptures. Highly recommended.

Ken Levine

While (4 years) ago I've searched the PA data to find some prog from Brazil, to my surprised there was enough music to me to discover from this country and I begun to look for the bands I've choosed on the net to buy some of their music. Among the bands that seams to me to be an intristing aqusition was a little known band from early this decade named Arion. To tell the truth I didn't known anything about them, but the cover art told me that may be some intristing going on with them. I get the album from Musea records 2 years ago and , surprise surprise , this is a real treat for symphonic prog listners and for me aswell. Releasing only one album in 2001 selftitled this unknown band succeded to catch in one album the perfect blend between symphonic arrangements a la Renaissance with more rougher moments not far from Yes or even Bacamarte. The musicianship is top notch, very fluent, very fresh arrangements, the musicians realy known how to use the instruments and release somthing worth investigate by all progressive rock listners. The voice of Tania Braz remind me in places of the queen of perfect voice Mrs Haslan, not a copy but somethimes the higher notes she reaches are to forced and stop me to give to the album more then 4 stars. Anyway a pleasent album all the way with a plus on opening track, Eyes of Time, nearly 15 min of high class prog, this is the piece that shows the true talent of this obscure band from this decade, and Everyway, the reat are good aswell. So, a big album, quite unnoticed in prog circles, deducing by the less reviews and ratings this band and album has, but worth investigate for sure. 4 stars easy, it's realy a shame to see such great and talented bands gone into oblivion, and discovered only by my mistake or not descovered at all.

Bogdan Olariu

Sintetizando, el sonido de esta banda es muy atractivo y pegadizo para el típico fan del rock sinfónico: encontrará una ráfaga de teclados, una buena cantidad de buenos riffs de guitarra, grandes canciones, coros celestiales y un buen trabajo de la base, todo adornado por las especias neo prog y algunos sabores populares. Las canciones cantadas en inglés mantienen una cierta semejanza entre sí, con lo que un buen equilibrio y se nota la búsqueda de la idea de un concepto, aunque me parece que no es el caso.
El álbum debut de Arion es un trabajo digno de ser descubierto y la banda es digna de ser observada en sus futuros trabajos. Atención con estos brazucas.
El resultado es un agradable, buen disco con varios destaques positivos. Lamentable, la mayoría de las canciones está en inglés y no tienen un estilo tan definido como muestran en ese último tema, y quizás es lo único que le falta al álbum. Si el próximo disco lo cantan, que me enteré están grabando, en portugués y tiene un estilo más local y definido, estilo al que han llegado en el mencionado tema "Natureza Mística", bueno, yo le pongo todas las fichas. La banda es muy buena, con unos músicos excepcionales. Igualmente, puedo recomendarles este álbum que seguramente no quedaré mal, a mí me gustó mucho.

www.myspace.com/bandaarion