Classic Rock Society

Tempano - Chilhood's end (1999 - Musea)
This Venezuelan quartet reformed last year for their first gig in 20 years and the re-release of their original album, Atabal Yemal, was a Musea best seller. The three new songs on the cd re-issue gave a foretaste of how the members had developed musically over the years and this is now fully realised through the release of this new album.

After Crying's cellist, Peter Pejtsik, guests on a number of songs and adds an extra dimension to the already very varied range of styles from symphonic to fusion to some quite freaky almost avant-garde stuff on the 24 minute eponymous suite. Having said that, the music never becomes inaccessible and there is plenty to delight most tastes in this collection. The main suite is a real pot-pourri of these styles featuring quiet acoustic pages merging with flowing guitar lines and lush keyboards on some sections while others feature intricate guitar, bass and cello parts as well as strange choral and synthesised effects and spacey sounds.
One of the nice things about Tempano is that all members have their strengths - you'll hear some great bass-led pieces such as the final track and drums and percussion are an active and integrated part of several compositions rather than just providing rhythm. There is only one ballad-type song on the album which is something of a pity as Pedro, the guitarist, has a very pleasant, mellow singing voice and a superb vocal range which he uses rather less frequently than on Atabal. (Note -a song-orientated solo album would be welcome, Pedro).

I am reminded at various stages of bands as diverse as Area, Minimum Vital, Jadis, Eclat, National Health, even Henry Cow, but Tempano are no clones and unlike many South American bands they do not take the easier option of just following well trodden symphonic or King Crimson styles. For this reason and the excellent quality of musicianship, experimentation and composition displayed throughout the album, I would have to give it a four to five star rating. If you only buy one South American album this year buy this one."

Richard Barnes
Classic Rock Society
WS magazine

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