POÇOS & NUVENS – ANO VELOZ OUTONO ADENTRO – PROGSHINE
Originally released in 1998, this Brazilian album has just been made available for download by Progshine Records. Featuring Gérson Werlang (lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic and classical guitar, mandolin, percussion), Edgar Sleifer (lead vocals, flute, cromorne, electric guitar, brazilian 12 string viola, piano), Irvin Faller (bass), Sávio Werlang (keyboards) and Rafael Bisogno (drums, percussion), this is a light progressive album which has quite a lot in common with the Italian style of prog, although not quite as heavy on the keyboards. The band are certainly layering on the harmonies, bringing together some Brazilian folk influences as well as elements of bands such as Jethro Tull, along with plenty of early Seventies symphonic styles.
Although it is quite an interesting listen, there are a couple of places where this album falls down for me. The first is the vocals, as I have never been a fan of Gérson Werlang, as although this is the first time I have come across this album I have previously reviewed some of his later solo works. His falsetto and high vocals don’t ever really sound true, as if they are either slightly off-key are about to be, and that always causes major issues for that. Secondly, for some reason for most of the album, the bass is way too low in the mix which gives quite a one-sided overall sound which is simply unbalanced. It isn’t an album which has traveled well in terms of time as it would have sounded dated back in 1998, and now that is even more so. All power to Progshine Records for making it available, as I know this band did gain a lot of support outside their native Brazil and now it is once again easy to find, but it’s just not for me.
6/10 Kev Rowland
