(Eclectic Prog) Mr. Hyde - Reflejos de un Encierro - 2011, FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Mr. Hyde biography

One of the most exciting eclectic progressive bands from South America in later years, MR. HYDE was founded in Valparaiso, Chile, in early 2007, by guitarist Felipe Alarcón and drummer/percussionist Raúl Vallejos (Batería). From the very outset, the band's ethos was to create a multicolored form of instrumental rock, and so, soon afterwards, keyboardist Cristian Pérez and bassist Xavier Palominos joined the venture. The whole year 2007 was devoted to writing material, eventually leading to the formation of a proper setlist to be shown on stage: on February 2008, at Chinaski Jazz Bar, the first MR. HYDE gig took place. Other gigs followed, a factor that boosted the band's determination to develop and release its debut item: a self-produced EP entitled "Nuevos Aires". The aforementioned EP was presented in August 2008, at La Tertulia bar in Valparaiso.

The year 2009 saw MR. HYDE promoting its EP in local and small national circuits, in this way gaining a little cult following; also, the band was constantly inspired to write new material. It wasn't until 2011 that MR. HYDE managed to record and release a new item, a proper album entitled "Reflejos De Un Encierro", via Mylodon Records. An important anecdote in the production of this album is the presence of TRYO's drummer/percussionist Félix Carbone as a special guest on one track. Being as it is a powerful álbum, it really shows the band's full potential: a healthy, energetic mixture of contemporary and old-school progressive essences, richly adorned with space-rock, fusion and heavy prog elements here and there. MR. HYDE is a band not to lose track on.

http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7189

One of my favorite albums. This is a really personal album to review, besides, this is my first review in PA. I knew this band by Facebook, where the bassist of two Chilean Prog Bands (Zydra, that is not in PA and this one) liked a review in my Blog of the Zydra debut "IX", he gave me a link to download this album and asked me to talk about it. I just have find a Masterpiece! (And then the Band liked so much the review that they gave me the physical copy of the CD as a gift!) Don't think that i'm biased... actually i tell this so you can imagine how personal this album is.
Reflejos de un Encierro it's an Instrumental Prog Rock Conceptual Album, it deals (in the music, since there are no vocals) with the topic of Loneliness and Confinement. The music it's very changing, but you aren't going to find out-of-place parts or solos without feeling or sense, every note has a meaning and the music flows really well within the songs, especially in the highlights (with an "*" sign in the score)

(4.5/5) The album opens with "Despertar", a dreamy and Ambient piece, with a guitar with a lot of Delay and a brilliant simple composition, it sets the mood to open a great treasure and it's a very relaxing song.

(5/5) Viajes comes in with a powerful riff to get us up from our Dream, now the band goes in a Heavy-Neo-Prog vibe (an uplifting one). At minute 53 or so you can hear a soft Vibraphone going with the Riffs and the Keyboards... that Vibraphone keeps going as the song slowly moves into a Raga-Like vibe, where a Sitar and a Dabuka welcomes us to a dreamy arabian landscape (the other instruments keep the vibe). This song it's changing fast, close to the 3 minute mark or so the band goes on with a powerful Prog Metal comeback to end with riffs played by both the guitar and the vibraphone. (The Darburka and the Vibraphone are played by a guest musician)

(5*/5) Rebaños opens with a brilliant keyboard composition, emotional and powerful opener for this song (sometimes you could remember "Matraz" one of the most brilliant bands to come from Chile and that has a Masterpiece album according to PA) the bass then comes in with the keyboard riffs and the guitar comes to remind us that this is a Rock album, great Riffs of Prog Metal coming at us and giving us some time to go with the beat. A time later the band stops and we get to another part, where a soft arpeggio is played along with a great guitar solo to go with it (with a psychedelic vibe). Abruptly, the keyboard interrupts this vibe and comes with a riff that is followed by the rest of the band in a classic Prog Metal shape. The song ends this way.

(5*/5) Éxtasis is my favorite song from this album, opens with bass and keyboards in a misterious vibe... the guitar comes in with an interesting rhythm and riffs, the songs breaks in a groovy, fun and complex riff. The song keeps this rhythm and gets softer with a guitar solo and keyboard work, the song then gets even softer with a Neo-prog feel... all of this with great logic, the Neo-Prog vibe keeps getting better and better with solos and arrangements. Then we get to a more Metal part, with Neo Prog interludes (all of this with a great sense of logic, you never feel that the song is disconjointed). Another great and groovy riff mixed with metal. The song ends with pure Prog Metal, heavy Riffs and a strong organ, along with a more groovy and soft riff. A magnific Song!

(4.5/5) Potencial de Acción is a little weird, but it's an awesome song for the open minded progger... it has a heavy Electronic influence that might be shocking for those Purists, but if you open your mind you find that this song defines what is "Progressive", maybe it's odd to have a keyboard solo or a Neo-Prog Riff, and an electronic beat at the same time (and really weird beats to be fair), but this song is well constructed and i don't find any mistakes on it... it's just eclectic and somewhat experimental. (4.5/5) Potencial de Reposo connects with Potencial de acción (Fun fact: The name of these songs is based on the way scientists refer in Spanish to the Parts of the process of Synapse of the Neurons) with a more calmed and Psychedelic vibe, an emotional song dominated by the guitar and the superb way it's played with a strong psychedelic technique, the keyboards also make a great performance here. A Great Psychedelic song.

(5*/5) Vigilia it's one of the songs that let me say that this album it's eclectic, it's a beautiful chamber symphonic piece, opening with bass chords and a backing guitar with a slow vibe, then the guitar and the keyboards get to a melodic part... this song has a Flute, a great one played by a guest musician... don't blame me if you get emotional with this part, it's VERY well done and it's sofisticated... the song progresses to a more heavy and discordant part (only with acoustic guitar and flute, try to do that) with something that reminds me some heavy chamber symphonic pieces like the ones from Dün, to get back to a Symphonic Folk vibe and back to a emotional flute solo. The song ends similar to the way it started. (5/5) Caida Libre opens with a groovy Riff to get us back to a Prog Metal vibe, Uplifting and complex riffs are the constant in the first minute, then we get to a long psychedelic part, that evolves slowly and masterfully to the groovy Prog metal of the start, this description doesn't make any justice to the song, listen it (it has video-clip, search it)

(4/5) Claustrofobia it's the heaviest song here. It opens with a weird mixture of psychedelic guitar and a fast bass-drums combination, the keyboard gets in with a heavy Riff and the entire band then gets to work with a lot of heavyness, in a great Prog metal standard- Anyway the song it's not simple or easy, along some repetitive heavy riffs we have some creative composition. The song slowly starts to get weirder and we are left with static and weird noises in the end... a weird end, it's not a bad one by any means, but i hoped something more... elaborated to close the album.

Not everyone it's going to agree that this album it's a Perfect Masterpiece of Prog, but i can't think of any reasonable way this could be something less than a 4... in my opinion this album could easily be one of your favorites if you give it time, and you can't let this album escape if you enjoy good Prog. Recommended for those who enjoy Eclectic Prog, for those who don't mind changing songs (but the changes in the songs are masterfully done, you never feel alienated by out-of-place parts), for those who enjoy Instrumental Prog that doesn't focus only in solos without meaning, and for those who want to enjoy an obscure great album. Not Recommended for those who only want solos in their Instrumental Prog, for Purists or for people that doesn't like Prog (but that's obvious) We get a 42.5/9 score, this equals 4,7222..., this aproximates to a 5.

Review by maximilianohorus_1
http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=37004

- Raúl Vallejos Baier / drums & percussion
- Felipe Leyton Cabrera / bass
- Felipe Alarcón Muñoz / electric & acoustic guitars
- Cristian Pérez Lecaros / keyboards & synthesizers

Guest musicians:
- Félix Carbone / percussion & vibraphone (2)
- Tomás Carrasco / flute (7)