Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Arteria - 2010 - Cuatro Visiones

Arteria
2010
Cuatro Visiones




01. La Sentencia. (3:56)
02. Fragmentos Cortados. (4:13)
03. Lo Inexistente. (4:58)
04. Cuatro Visiones. (7:38)
05. Partes En Una Botella. (8:01)
06. Marcha Funebre. (3:10)
07. Lo Que Nos Esta Muerro. (4:46)
08. Mi Pulso. (3:04)
09. El Hijo De Bernando. (6:02)
10. Un Lamento Y Dos Danzas. (7:44)

Juan Carlos Ruiz / bassoon, composer & arranger
Adolfo Zaragoza Cerecero / guitar
Mari Carmen Graue / electric cello
Victor Baldovinos / drums
With:
Tizok / drum programming




Arteria is a new ensemble coming from Mexico City, whose music can be described as Rock in Opposition, blending chamber music with avant-garde and improvisations.

The creation of this project is the result of the conjunction of four trained and talented Mexican musicians who have been creating original music in different bands such as Nazca, Iconoclasta and Culto sin nombre, reaching more than 30 albums recorded so far between them.

Their debut album saw the light in 2011, entitled Cuatro visiones, with ten compositions in which you will find exquisite arrangements, restless and somber music full of a diversity of nuances and textures, which will surely give you a moment of reflection and self-conciousness.

It starts with "La sentencia" which since the beginning produces a tense atmosphere, which later will be complemented by guitars, drums and bassoon. After a couple of minutes the intensity slows down a little bit, however, the atmosphere is still somber and nervous, reflecting a kind of desolated world. "Fragmentos cortados" is a great track with very good arrangements. The avant-garde compositions and the inherent RIO tune is here from start to end. The bassoon produces different nuances, while the guitar, drums and piano complement this chaotic mood.

"Lo inexistente" has a slow-tempo rhythm in which the bassoon plays once again the main role, putting the textures in the atmosphere while a raw guitar add its tune; later the cello also joins and creates new nuances. I love the inner changes this song produces, because despite in moments seems to lose direction, it actually doesn't, I mean, the chaos created in the different passages are short pieces that complete the puzzle, so each moment of this track is necessary to its development.

"Cuatro Visiones" has a more intense rhythm, with a repetitive structure at first but at the same time, with an addictive sound. Seconds later it slows down, the guitar puts once again nervousness and then vanishes, when it happens, drums, cello and bassoon play at the same time, showing a good craftsmanship. After a couple of minutes guitar take the leadership again, and accompanied by some nice bass lines create a somber, yet powerful moment. Later new changes are built up here, letting us know the great compositional skills of the band. What I love, is how their music produces images, colours and stories, which kind?, that depends on you.

The longest composition comes next with "Partes de una botella" with eight minutes length. The guitar may take your attention, but it is worth mentioning that the drums are very important here, with a stronger sound that produces a different feeling. After a couple of minutes the style changes considerably, with a passage where the rhythm becomes friendlier, but it only lasts for a moment because then the music turns again to its avant- garde, tense and chaotic style where bassoon and cello greatly interplay The percussion in this track is wonderful, and that can be appreciated once again after four and a half minutes where it accompanies and shelters the guitar craziness. Excellent track!

"Marcha fúnebre" has actually that feeling of a funeral time, and a ritual at the same time. The drums are repetitive but addictive, the mood is somber once again, and the bassoon is accurate as usual. The surprising thing in this track is that just before the second minute it drastically changes and becomes weird, crazy with some soundscapes while a chaos is created by all the musicians. "Lo que no está muerto" starts with piano making a kind of terror ? like tune. Despite its short time, just like the previous track, the band manages to divide it in two halves. Here n the first one we will find a uncertain sound, like improvisations, while the second one has a more elaborated and complex structure. Worth mentioning the cello work here, which is quite good.

"Mi pulso" is the shortest track with only three minutes, however, it is an example that a few time can produce several emotions and share a variety of textures. "El hijo de Bernardo" takes the programming that was previously used as background in previous tracks. Later cello, bassoon, drums and guitar enter together and create a kind of gentle but tense atmosphere. After three minutes we have a very cool passage where the guitar shows off with a long riff.

The last track of the album is "Un lament y dos danzas", which makes me thing about our roots and about the situation we have in our country now, lamentable, actually. The music flows, creating different atmospheres and emotions but always with a dark and somber feeling. After five minutes it changes and implements repetitive electronic drums accompanied first by bass, and later by guitar and cello. It follows like this until the very end.

A must for fans of dark music like "Heresie" and other classics in the same vein. An amazing trip.

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