Cast - Endless Signs (1995)

Volvemos con Cast, la mítica banda mexicana que ahora revive en nuestro blog cabezón gracias a los aportes de nuestro querido neckwringer.  Este es sin duda un álbum muy completo y que proyectó a la banda a otro nivel, significó mostrar realmente la calidad interpretativa, ejecutante y energética que Cast tenía guardada para sus presentaciones, volcada a un disco de estudio. Revivimos un gran disco de una gran banda...

Artista: Cast
Álbum: Endless Signs
Año: 1995
Género: Rock sinfónico
Duración: 67:10
Nacionalidad: México

Álbum oficial de estudio número 5 del grupo mexicano Cast. Según los propios músicos: "Contiene solamente material de nueva creación y además el tema 'Nostrabamos' que hace una alusión épica a casi la totalidad de los temas de esa producción".
Este es uno de los álbums de este grupo que más me gustan, aún con los puntos en contra de que está cantado en inglés y que musicalmente, lo que más le cuesta a estos mexicanos es lograr que sus álbums tengan una "textura" necesaria para darle más variación a los temas o a las secciones, y así también lograr que el álbum no sea medio pesado o con sensación de repetitivo, aunque no lo sea. Pero repito, para mí es un gran trabajo, a mí me gusta mucho y desde ya se los recomiento, siendo un álbum típico de Cast.
El álbum tiene muy buen nivel, y es para mí una de las mejores producciones de Cast, o al menos de las que más me gustan a mí.? Es bastante triste ver que inclusive en su país de origina mucha gente que aprecia este tipo de música no conocen a Cast, una banda de la talla de otras internacionales, incluso me atrevo a decir que bien puede superar a varios pesos pesados.

 

 

Claro, es una banda a la altura de los grandes proyectos progresivas y con un amplio legado musical de ya muchos años, pero lamentablemente Cast es una actividad que no tubo mucha proyección, seguramente no por culpa de los músicos, sino por falta de un mínimo apoyo. Ya sabemos que en América del sur las bandas no cuentan con ninguna posibilidad de apoyo de ningún tipo, por la que los músicos tienen que ser no solo músicos sino además productores, managers, emprendedores, financistas y quien sabe que cantidad de cosas más.
En todo caso, la gente de Cast emprendió el proyecto con muchas ganas, pase lo que pase y no dependiendo del éxito que tengan, y ello es meritorio de por sí.

As steady as a click, CAST carries on making albums, so regularly that you have the feeling the Mexican band has always been a part of the Progressive rock scene. It even could have been so, if only a lack of funds had not forced them to wait twenty years until they could release their works. At least, since the band's birth in the Seventies, it had time to polish up its music ! "A Live Experience" showed the arrival of these musicians from Mexicali to Musea, and this allows the delighted listener to listen to their best titles recorded between 1995 and 1998. Eighth studio opus by CAST (...Since 1994 !), "Imaginary Window" (1999) develops lyrical compositions perfectly structured. "Legacy" is from 2000 and is as good as the ones before, whereas the double-CD "Laguna De Volcanes" makes for the first time, covers of former tracks in Spanish ! "Castalia" is the witness of a concert given in Italy on that same year. Now with a dozen disks (Studio and live) in their pocket and as happy promoters of the BajaProg festival in Mexicali, Alfonso VIDALES and the guys could easily have some deserved rest. No way ! 2003's double-CD "Al-Bandaluz" shows that CAST is still far from reaching the end of its musical evolution. The staff is renewed, still based around its charismatic leader and the singer Francisco HERNANDEZ. From their early works influenced by Seventies Progressive rock (CAMEL, GENESIS, PREMIATA FORNERIA MARCONI...) and neo Progressive (MARILLION, IQ...), you can obviously find highly symphonic instrumental parts. The Latin side is still there, though it's not ostentatious. Actually the evolution is more generally based on a constantly rising ambition regarding songwriting. Here diversity rules. Watch out, this is an essential release for 2003 ! The concept-album "Nimbus" (2004) continues this will to embrace different musical styles, still pushing CAST closer to perfection... It seems so difficult to Alfonso VIDALES and his fellowmen to restrain their creativity today that they have started to collect double-studio albums ! The new opus "Mosaïque" (2006) doesn't change that rule as it presents sixteen new or older tracks, all of which were previously unreleased. This symphonic and adventurous music has gone beyond the mere neo Progressive rock for a long time now, as it integrated new instruments such as saxophone, cello or flute. The warmth of Spanish language contributes in giving, if necessary, a unique touch to this enchanting music. An essential album ! Like the legendary phoenix, CAST arises from its ashes, again and again. With the precision of a Mexican watch, Alfonso VIDALES and his crew awake with the spring coming. Believe it or not, that's also when the new edition of the BajaProg festival takes place. This time, the new album is called "Com.Union" (2007): it's simply excellent, imaginative and aventurous, and one may wonder when all this will come to an end... Later, later on, for sure ! And what's next ? The answer is... "Originallis" (2008) ! In a way similar to THE FLOWER KINGS, CAST loves multiplying the releases and alternating single and double-albums. This time, the twin-edition has been favoured. And the motto "Excellent symphonic Progressive rock album" has been kept. A quality trademark still shining south of the Rio Grande...

Musea Records

The fifth Cast album "Endless Sign", entirely recorded and released in the same 1995, became the band's first album freed of any additional tracks from the past. At the same time, this album came to be the band's best album at the time and it remains one of the Cast best albums to date (at least for me). As well as to a lot of other reviewers, it's obvious to me that Cast, led by mighty composer and virtuoso keyboard player Alfonso Vidales, are not only inspired, but also influenced by the music of the great Genesis. And yet, reading and re-reading the various reviews on Cast's albums in various virtual and paper Prog-sources, I wonder why almost all 'my brothers in Prog-pen' describe Cast as just another one Genesis-alike band, - as if Cast's music were really something unoriginal at all. The most interesting thing in the case of Cast is that most prog-reviewers repeat one another almost word by word. It's the easiest way to describe a band by comparing it to another band that is known more widely, etc, etc (I'm not talking about apparent wanna-bees). Also I wonder why nobody sees that, few cliches aside, Alfonso uses a lot of his very own, original and enjoyable keyboard moves, passages and solos on each Cast album ever recorded, including even the band's first real album "Sounds of Imagination"? So, don't you really hear anything, apart from similarities to Genesis, in Alfonso's works? Then you should cry at the top of your voice: "My poor ears! What's happened to my poor ears?!" Sadly, doctors are powerless to help you with this problem. How can they help you if you don't really know where you've lost your ears? You say you didn't lose them? Then where you've heard "obvious similarities" between Cast and Genesis on "Legacy" (2000) while I (together with four my close friends who are all great fans of Genesis) find just few illegible traces of the Legend even on "Endless Sign" which was released more than five years ago? In addition, I always remember that Vidales is the main mastermind of the band and the majority of Cast's songs are written by him alone. Also, I can't notice Steve Hackett's silhouette behind the back of Francisco Hernandez whose playing the guitar, at least beginning with this album, is exceptionally original. Well, I have returned to the theme of ubiquitous comparisons by no means for the first time, but I still feel like a dog barking at the moon for no reason (yeah, I feel okay to find myself being compared to a dog- : I consider such a comparison much less abusive than a lot of those that I read on prog pages). Why? Because tomorrow I'll read a lot of other reviews that are full of a lot of other comparisons. I'd better put "Endless Sign" in my CD player to listen to this wonderful, from start to the last note, masterpiece.

Progressor

"Endless Signs" is slightly different than their four previous releases. I think that CAST sometimes sounds like their British colleagues PENDRAGON. From the first album and onward, I think that they have taken a step forward towards a more British sound for every record. The guitarist Francisco Hernándes and keyboard player Alfonso Vidales are playing a main role in CAST, and they are really coming to their rights on this their fifth album. Best tracks: "Hidden Poems", "Spirit of Man" and the mighty instrumental finale "Nostrabamos".

Greger Rönnqvist

This is a solid album by Mexican prog band: CAST. It's too bad that this band, especially this album, has received little attention by prog lovers. The music offered by Cast in "Endless Signs" is actually excellent in music composition and performance. The only problem with this album is in its production. I don't know why I have never found any album of Cast which has excellent production especially in the sonic quality of the CD. This has impacted into listening pleasure of this "supposedly" a wonderful album which has been capped by the limit of the production quality. Composition-wise I can see there is relatively high music density performed by the band. The combined work of keyboard by Vidales and smooth howling guitar by Hernandes is actually stunning especially when it's combined with powerful drum work. The music is actually a combination of Genesis, Camel and a bit of ELP. In most cases, the keyboard work is much more dynamic than Tony Banks in Genesis. The melodies of each track are also good and they all blend nicely with the music. I can imagine if this album is recorded with the same sonic quality of Genesis "Selling England By The Pound" it will definitely create clearer sounds reproduction. I have no problem with all songs in this album, in fact, I like them all because the music is quite complex and packed. This album is another favorite of mine in addition to "Angels and Demons" album. Keep on proggin' ..!

Gatot Widayanto

It is incredible difficult to find albums from this band from Mexico. Which is a pity because what I have heard so far has been rather good. I loved their Orginallis album
I have been advised that Cast has chopped around their style quite a lot. Although they have always stayed close or within the Symphonic Prog genre. This album though is a bit of a detour and I would argue; a detour into Neo Prog. The sound is pretty much in the vein of IQ and Pendragon. The vocals is Pendragon out and out. There are also some strong Genesis elements (not surprising !) in their sound and some faint Flower Kings and ELP elements. If you love Pendragon and IQ; this album should be purchased (if you can find it) just because of the lush sound.
The quality of this album is not that impressive though. The problem is that the songs are simply not good enough. There are three really good songs on this album though. The Genesis dominated Spirit of Man and the title track. Those two songs are really epic and takes us through various landscapes. The final song Nostrabamos is like ELP goes Neo- Prog on a boat in France. Those three songs are great. The rest of this album is OK.
It is a pity that this album is so difficult to get hold of because it is rather good. I really like this band.

Ricardo Cicaga

This period of Cast's career is both prolific and highly creative. Of course, they started to play as a band in 1979 and they had a lot material available to put albums together. herefore, no less than six albums were released in as little as two years. Not always great (like their debut album " Landing in a Serious Mind") but generally good.
"Endless Signs" belongs to theIr good ones. It is more ELP oriented than others probably, which does not really displease me. The pompous and bombastic side with "Hidden Poems" and the delicate and almost classical one with "Spirit Of Man".
The piece of resistance being the title track and epic song "Endless Signs". Most of the aspect of Cast are present : Cast's high technicity, pleasant vocals from Dino (which I globally like BTW), superb keys of course, long and bombastic instrumental passages (at times heavy), light (but short) early-Genesis sounds. It lacks maybe in cohesion and grandeur but overall it is a good song.
"Allow Me" is a nice piece of music, melodic and poignant as far as the vocals are concerned. They remind me somewhat Peter Nicolls's ones (IQ). The closing number "Nostrabamos" will also bring us back to the ELP tradition. Strong keyboards again (but this is a standard for "Cast" since its leader Alfonso Vidales is truely a great player) and bombastic music. A great finale.
It sounds as "Cast" has broken with some of their influences with this album (PFM, Tull and the early Genesis and this album is more concentrated on ELP. It is a pleasant album in these ELP-less years.

ZowieZiggy

"Endless Signs" is slightly different than their four previous releases. I think that Cast sometimes sounds like their British colleges Pendragon. From the first album and onward, I think that they have taken a step forward towards a more British sound for every record.
The guitarist Francisco Hernándes and keyboard player Alfonso Vidales are playing a main role in Cast, and they are really coming to their rights on this their fifth album.
Best tracks: "Hidden Poems", "Spirit of Man" and the mighty instrumental finale "Nostrabamos".

Por último, solo les recomiendo el álbum, no se lo pierdan, en lo personal me resulta muy agradable y creo que todos lo pueden disfrutar mucho. Hasta ese murciélago empomador de Robins colgantes. Ese que está acá abajo.

Lista de Temas:
1. Signs of Future
2. Hidden Poems
3. Spirit of Man
4. Endless signs
5. Power Games
6. Allow Me
7. Mayday
8. Nostrabamos

Alineación:
- Dino Brassera / vocal, flute and Bass
- Francisco Hernandez / guitar, vocal and back vocal
- Alphonso Vidales / keyboards
- Antonio Bringas / drums
- Rodolfo Gonzalez / banjo

***DATOS TECNICOS***

Artist: Cast
Album: Endless Signs
Year: 1995
Label: Not on Label
Catalog: ALF-005CD
Tracks: 8
Barcode: NA
Release: 1995
Matrix: MFG BY CREST NATIONAL - CA E 25516 2
      crest natl.cl
Mastering SID Code: IFPI LF73
Mould SID Code: IFPI 9F08