Nexus - Buenos Aires Free Experience Volumen 2 (2007)

Artista: Nexus

Álbum: Buenos Aires Free Experience Volumen 2
Año: 2007
Género: Rock sinfónico improvisado
Duración: 71:46
Nacionalidad: Argentina

Lista de Temas:
1. Plaga
2. El Reves Del Espejo
3. Servicio De Lounge
4. No Pizza
5. Dame Un "La"
6. Danza Mental

Alineación:
- Lalo Huber / keyboards
- Carlos Lucena / guitars
- Daniel Ianniruberto / bass
- Luis Nakamura / drums & percussion
Guest musicians:
Lito Marcello / vocals
Ricardo Soulé / acoustic violin

En el 2007 se editó "Buenos Aires Free Experience 2" de Nexus, y fue la segunda entrega de la serie trunca del sello brasilero Record Runner (que luego quebraría) con improvisaciones en estudio de las bandas (el volumen 1 fue interpretado por Amagrama y ya lo presentamos en su momento). En este album los Nexus dan rienda suelta a la inspiración y se sumergen en seis temas absolutamente creados en el estudio, durante la grabación, improvisados para la ocasión. Cada track fue creado e improvisado en vivo en el estudio, sin ensayos o ideas previas, y más tarde fueron editados y mezclados con un margen de apreciación muy creativo.
El grupo contó con la participación de Ricardo Soule en violín y las locuras vocales (en idioma incidental) de Lito Marcello en uno de los temas. En el album se puede apreciar la gran gama de influencias de la banda a la hora del "jamming", desde el mas elaborado rock sinfonico progresivo de los 70's que es el sello distintivo de la banda, pasando por el jazz, el hard rock, el ambient prog y diversas deformidades experimentales.

"Buenos Aires Free Experience Vol. 2" is the second in a series of jam session CDs organized by the Record Runner label. The music was spontaneously created in the studio and later edited and mixed. This is another side of Nexus, different from the rest of their output but excellent in its own right.

El proyecto tuvo la intención de mostrar el lado oculto de los músicos y la forma en que pueden tocar sus instrumentos. Esta "jam sessions" consistió en reuniones en las que cada músico creaba una frecuencia musical capaz de armonizar con los demás ...

En el disco hay canciones inusualmente a la deriva, navegando en la tormenta de la improvisación pero que son guiados magistralmente por el férreo capitán que es su propio talento, en excursiones instrumentales muy interesantes que alternadamente se dividen entre el guitarrista Carlos Lucena y el tecladista Lalo Huber, apuntalado por unos ritmos interesantes en todo momento. Para la ocasión, la banda apela a enfoques de blues, así como también juega con el jazz-rock, lógicamente dadas las circunstancias de la grabación. Sin embargo, sus raíces en el campo sinfónico es inconfundible, pero las improvisaciones extensas permiten vislumbrarlos desde otro ángulo que hasta el momento no se les conocía, o no del todo. Un experimento interesante mostrando nuevas facetas de Nexus.
Un trabajo donde los músicos dan rienda suelta a su creatividad en "tiempo real", el álbum tiene improvisaciones no convencionales, riffs deliciosos y los inevitables duelos del Hammond de Lalo Huber, mientras que también se encontrarán con el violín de Ricardo Soulé para poner la frutilla de la torta.

Y si quieren, péguenle una leída a los comentarios realizados por nuestro involuntarios colaboradores, van a ver que a todo el mundo le ha encantado este trabajo, así que espero que ustedes también lo disfruten.

Warning: this is not a successor to the album Perpetuum Karma but a release in the serie Free Experience by the Brasilian Progrock label Record Runner (fellow Argentine band Amagrama started in this serie). The record company Record Runner mentions about this special serie: "The "Buenos Aires Free Experience" project is an associated production of Brazilian Record Runner company and Argentine UTOPIA Music Factory with the intention of showing the hidden side of musicians and their playing of instruments from the spirit. These "jam sessions" consist in meetings where every musician generates a musical frequency of energy able to harmonize with the others. In the Seventies, the legendary and endless 'jam sessions' were the most sublime passages of musical expression. Four decades later, my aim is to record in this collection of improvisational moments a sound 'collage' including rock, hardrock, blues, psychedelia, symphonic-rock, jazz, avant-garde, etc. The basic idea is to use music as a vehicle for the soul to express itself. Every piece of music is created and improvised live at the studio, without overdubs nor rehearsing, and later they are edited and mixed with a very creative criterion." So take your seat and enjoy a captivating musical adventure by excellent, very inspired musicians!
1. Plaga (17.51) : Nexus starts very dynamic delivering fiery guitarplay and powerful Hammond work, supported by a beautiful strings-sound and propulsive drumming. Then the rhythm slows down, after a biting wah-wah drenched guitar solo the atmosphere is quite bluesy with a slow synthesizer solo (fat Minimoog sound). Gradually the rhythm-section plays heavier and we can enjoy splendid interplay, culminating in a breathtaking climax, Nexus 'rocks'! But it's not over, in a swinging rhythm Lalo delivers a swirling Hammond organ solo and flashy Minimoog flights, followed by a heavy guitar solo and sumptuous keyboards, the final part features piano and howling guitar runs, what a start!
2. El reves del espejo (5.34) : A powerful mid-tempo with fiery guitar and bombastic keyboard work, then a propulsive rhythm-section supporting a heavy and raw guitar solo and sensational keyboard flights, culminating in exciting interplay and amazing drumming.
3. Servicio de lounge (14.39) : Nexus got the blues with slow Hammond waves and a bluesyguitar solo. Gradually the atmosphere becomes heavier and more dynamic featuring very tastful and varied keyboard work, from the Fender Rhodes electric piano and Hammond organ to the Minimoog synthesizer sound. The interplay is awesome, ending in a compelling Keith Emerson inspired Hammond organ solo.
4. No pizza (14.25) : A swinging rhythm with lots of piano runs, a swirling Hammond organ solo and fat Minimoog flights, supported by very powerful and propulsive drum beats, how dynamic this sounds!
5. Dame un "La" (0.55) : A very short piece featuring Spanish voices and the tuning of instruments.
6. Danza mental (18.12) : This long and alternating final composition starts with a wailing violin by Vox Dei guitar player Ricardo Soulé, the melancholic climate fits perfect to the Spanish vocals by Nexus guest singer Lito Marcello (also on their latest album Perpetuum Karma). Nexus delivers a pleasant harmony of mellow organ, intense violin, fat Minimoog runs and bluesy guitar. A short accellaration contains heavy and raw guitarwork in the vein of Jimi Hendrix and Ritchie Blackmore, these are Carlos Lucena his obvious roots! Then we can enjoy raw, distorted and howling guitar runs, a dynamic rhythm-section, flashy Minimoog flights and a sensitive violinsolo. The heavy final parts sounds as a tribute to Deep Purple during the Made In Japan era, a big hand for the powerful and exciting Hammodn organ!
Don't expect symphonic prog in the vein of the music on their album Perpetuum Karma, just enjoy the captivating, adventurous and dynamic blend of styles, mission accomplished!
Muchas gracias, Alberto!

Erik Neuteboom

The "Buenos Aires Free Experience" is sort of an experiment I guess you could say where the Record Runner music label invites bands to come into their studio to create and play live music in a spontaneus way. So yes this is all about improvs which let's face it is a scary thing for most bands. There is no rehearsing or overdubs, but later the music is edited and mixed. NEXUS is the second band to take part in this series. What I found interesting about this recording (knowing the band NEXUS very well) was that they incorporated different styles into their music instead of being the straight up Symphonic keyboard-led band that i'm used to. Some Blues, Jazz and above all with this style of music (winging it) is that they jammed a lot. I love when bands do that so this record was a hit with me.
"Plaga" is a fantasic way to start. Heavy drums with organ to begin then the guitar takes the lead. This sounds great.It settles as synths wash in before 1 1/2 minutes. The guitar is back with some chunky bass as the synths continue. Nice. It starts to build after 6 minutes. So good. It's heavier before 9 minutes as drums pound. It settles again 13 1/2 minutes in. I like it ! "El Reves Del Espejos" opens with synths and spoken words in Spanish. It kicks in KING CRIMSON-like with some steller guitar and fat bass with crisp drumming. Synths help out too. I really like this tune. "Servicio De Lounge" opens with synths as guitar and organ join in. Drums and bass support. It's pretty laid back as synths come and go. The tempo picks up after 5 minutes. A Jazzy vibe here. A change before 11 minutes as the guitar starts to lead and the tempo slows up.
"No Pizza" is fairly bombastic as one might imagine when there's no pizza. Piano, drums and bass lead early. Organ before 2 1/2 minutes and it leads until the drum show 6 minutes in. It turns heavy before 8 1/2 minutes. I like the drums before 12 minutes. "Dame Un "La"" is a one minute excerpt of drums, synths, guitar, violin and voices. "Danza Mental" is the over 18 minute closer. Synths and violin early. A beat before 3 1/2 minutes as the synths and violin stop. Vocals join in and organ too. Violin is back before 4 1/2 minutes, synths too. Heavy guitar before 6 1/2 minutes. Vocals are back 8 minutes in. Violin before 12 minutes. It then settles. Ripping organ 16 minutes in when it picks back up.
A solid 4 stars for me. It's just refreshing to hear NEXUS in this situation, especially since they were so successful at it. As Luis mentions in the liner notes, this is a more raw and direct NEXUS.

John Davie

Another amazing album from Nexus. This time, the music was recorded live, during jam sessions, with Lito Marcello and Ricardo Soulé as guest musicians. Since this is not a rehearsed album, each track has its own feeling, being completely independent from each other. Tracks 1 and 2 ("Plaga" and "El revés del espejo") are probably the heaviest ones, while track 3 ("Servicio de lounge") has an overall relaxing atmosphere. "No pizza" and "Danza mental" are the most experimental tracks, the first one being an interesting keyboards and drums only track. Track 4 is a kind of short introduction to the next track, in which you can listen to the musicians getting ready to play. "Danza mental" is, without a doubt, the most experimental track here. It features Ricardo Soulé's great violin playing, and Lito Marcello's strange -but suitable- vocals. The whole track has an Egyptian kind of feeling, and the vocals fit perfectly.

MrHiccup

I received two Nexus albums yesterday and im very impressed today!!!! Bs As Free Experience is plenty of music (rock, jazz, prog, experimental, blues, ambient, wow!). An impressive studio jam session. These album is not for everyone. You need forget the old concepts of prog and derivatives. Nexus is a great rock band here. Bs As and Perpetuum Karma are the perfect synthesis of the intelligent music today. Dont miss this album, probably is the beggining of some new in prog-ROCK. Believe me.

spider

Wow! Nexus really rocks in this album!!! Buenos Aires Free Experience 2 is a special edition by the label Record Runner (an excelent idea!!!). And Nexus sounds really free here. The music is a journey trough hard rock, symphonic, prog, experimental, jazz, blues, avant garde, rock, rock, and more rock, and the result is fantastic! Nexus is a band (the only one???) that mantain a high level in their music, popularity and critics, by almost 10 years. This album is a great surprise. The musicians plays without limits, remembering your roots and flying to new horizons. The best american symphonic prog group, now is a great rock band too! Believe me. According to the listened trough these years..I can't wait for the next Nexus studio album... and the next, and the next... Five stars minimum. Get the album. Highly recommended.

Romero

Ahora sí, me despido hasta la semana que viene, ya les dejé bastantes cosas como para que no me extrañen.
Y les aclaro que este disco está descatalogado, así que no lo podrán conseguir o comprar en ningún lado, pero para eso estamos aquí. Con este disco tendrán satisfacción garantizada.