Alas - Grandes Exitos (2004)

Riganti, Aznar, Zucker y Moretto en un recopilatorio de una de las mejores bandas que ha parido este país. Para que les revienten los oídos de tanta buena música, no podía faltar Alas en este festival de presentación de buenos discos ya presentados oportunamente, uno de los mejores grupazos argentinos de todos los tiempos, en un disco que es una recopilación de temas de lo más interesante. Y si bien el disco es solamente un recopilatorio, les recomiendo que vean los dos videos que lo acompañan porque hay alguna sorpresita aquí...


Artista: Alas
Álbum: Grandes Exitos
Año: 2004
Género: Jazz-Rock / Tango Fusión
Duración: 69:18
Nacionalidad: Argentina

Este es un álbum de compilación, donde el mayor mérito es encontrar muchos de los temas del inconseguible álbum (inconseguible en buena calidad, en MP3 seguramente lo encuentran) "Pinta tu aldea", estoy atrás de él desde hace tiempo, pero aún nada... esto es lo más cercano de conseguirlo... sobre Alas, el que no lo conozca puede empezar por aquí, y seguir con el resto.

Alas is another amazing band from Argentina, an often overlooked progrock scene! This CD is a compilation from their two studio albums, it contains seven compositions and the running time is at about 70 minutes.In general Alas makes fluent and dynamic progrock featuring great vintage keyboard work on the Hammond organ and Moog synthesizer (with echoes from Yes and ELP) along soaring string-ensemble and swinging Fender Rhodes electric piano. Despite the obvious hints to some symphonic rock dinosaurs, Alas succeeds to sound original by blending a wide range of instruments like trumpet, flute, acoustic guitar, percussion and harmonica. And the music is varied, from the bombastic ELP-inspired keyboard sound (Buenos Aires Solo Es Piedra, La Muerte Conto El Dinero and Aire-Surgente) to a jazzy piano solo (A Quienes Si No) and a vituosic duel between an acoustic guitar and piano (La Caza Del Mosquito), impressive! If you like Seventies symphonic rock with a strong adventurous touch, Alas is a band to discover.

Erik Neuteboom

Y como video vamos hoy a dejar algo distinto, un registro sin audio de Alas en television (sin identificar) en 1978. Son solamente unas secuencias breves de un programa televisivo donde se observa un show de Alas integrado por aquel entonces por Gustavo Moretto en teclados, Carlos Riganti en Batería, Pedro Aznar en bajo y Néstor Marconi en bandoneón.

It is good to notice that people is aware of lesser known bands, nevertheless they are only a few people that i could count with my own fingers, so what we have and love to do as followers of good music, is give a support to those lesser known bands, for example, with reviews!
Alas was a superb trio from Argentina who was part of the development of the progressive rock scene in South America, they released sadly only a couple of albums, but thet good thing is that both albums are excellent and were made with an exquisite musical quality and great compositions.
This time i started with the easiest review, i mean i am reviewing their compillation album, usually called a "The best of", so probably i will not be so specific about the songs and the band, i prefer to be more enthusiastic in the studio albums, so wait for those reviews and you will find more details.
This compillation of Grandes Exitos (greatest hits) is nothing but their two albums in one with the exception of a song called Silencio de Aguas Profundas, what Alas offer is a music full of great keyboards reminding me sometimes to Return to Forever for instance, with an extra and beautiful touch of the traditional sound of Tango from Argentina, the music is of course jazz fusion oriented, with some touches of symphonic prog and even a bit folk here and there, bombastic moments and very calm ones, all are songs of an extraordinary quality that everyone could love, this album contains 7 songs 4 long ones and 3 short ones that make a 70 minute album.
My favorite songs are "Buenos Aires Solo es Piedra", "A Quienes si no" and "La Casa del Mosquito", but believe me that every single track is excellent!
If you dont know Alas, this could be a nice way to start with his music, though it is always better to start with studio albums, my grade, 4 stars!! Highly recommendable to any prog lover!
Guillermo Urdapilleta

Lista de Temas:
1. Buenos Aires Solo Es Piedra
2. La Muerte Conto El Dinero
3. Aire (Surgente)
4. Rincon, Mi Viejo Rincon
5. A Quienes Si No
6. Pinta Tu Aldea
7. La Caza Del Mosquito

Alineación:
- Gustavo Moretto / vocals, synthesizers, winds, violín
- Carlos Riganti / drums, percussion
- Alex Zucker / bass (1-4), guitar
- Pedro Aznar / bass (5-7)