La Desooorden - Ciudad De Papel

Year of Release: 2007
Label: self released
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 61:59:00

In Valdivia, a rural area of Chile, a paper cellulous plant was constructed near a nature preserve. The local population opposed the building of the plant and organized a united front against the project, which endangered not only the lives and culture of the people but the habitat of rare animal species that inhabit the preserve. In the end, despite the best efforts of the people, the plant was built and big business triumphed.

Ok?..so what has this got to do with progressive rock music?

Well, this story provided the inspiration for the Chilean prog group La Desooorden to create a concept album titled Ciudad De Papel. This collection of 12 tunes tells the story of Valdivia with lyrics set to powerful themes buoyed with heavy percussion that reflects the band's Latin origins. The work of drummer Rodrigo Gonzalez and guitarist Alfonso Banda dominates this music with the saxophone of Peter Pfeiffer coming in a close second. The band uses the didgeridoo, the ocarina, jaw harp and a number of Latin percussion instruments along with the taped sound of nature and man to augment this tale of transformation and development and this whole disc can be listened to as a sort of aural documentary of the mind.

The frequent use of the saxophone makes for some valid comparisons to classic Italian prog at some times and old King Crimson at others. However, the heavy drums and guitar along with a tendency towards harmonic minor motifs and bassist Francisco Martin's funkified riffing make some of La Desooorden's new disc sound to me a bit like the work of bands like Tool and Rage Against The Machine. Granted, this is somewhat more tranquil than Tool or Rage, but despite the more varied tonal palette and the use of a wider range of instrumentation, this is pretty heavy music and it is music that conveys the emotional burden of Valdivia's people. As the album nears its finale, the music reflects the people's realization of their loss, their defeat at the hands of a faceless corporation, and the final track, "Boletos Para Ir" is almost a dirge, a sigh of resignation.

The broad view shows La Desooorden to be an amalgam of several styles. The music of Ciudad De Papel is a mix of funk metal as described above, a sort of lounge lizard jazz and a healthy dose of traditional Latin themes and instrumentation. Most of the discs 12 tracks are prefaced with taped sounds of birds and falling water, singing children, street demonstrations or political speeches that, along with the song lyrics, carry the story of Valdivia throughout the disc.

I speak very little Spanish and I live a world away from the conflicts of the Chilean forests, yet I can still find much to enjoy in this new release. Rodrigo Gonzalez often uses the cowbell on his kit and throws in lots of powerful tom-tom fills, creating a drum style that is at once heavy but sensitive, modern but also traditional. Pfeiffer's sax, along with the trumpet of Henry Veliz, who sits in on this disc, provides a wonderful foil to the distorted punch of Banda's guitar work. The band is also blessed with two powerful voices provided by Fernando Altamirano and Karsten Contreras, both excellent cantors. The songwriting of La Desooorden is sophisticated and unique to my ears. The music boasts frequent shifts of tempo and constantly varying dynamics which keep this album fresh and new even after repeated listening.

Living just a few miles from the US/ Mexican border for most of my life may predispose me to enjoy the type of Latin influence that permeates Ciudad De Papel. Half of this area's TV and radio stations broadcast in Spanish and you can't avoid being familiar with styles like mariachi, ranchero, and rock en espanola. Perhaps the sound of La Desooorden may be an acquired taste, but I find their music to be an exciting change from a lot of what I listen to and I can't help but respect the band for their willingness to tie their music to their political consciousness.

This may not be absolutely the best disc I've heard this year, but when it all wraps up I think Ciudad De Papel will be hovering somewhere around the top ten. This is a very good release and one that a broad range of music lovers will appreciate.

Tracklisting:
Fumarolas Del Alma / Ciudad De Papel / El Llamado Del Totoral / El Gran Acuerdo / Migraciones Eternas / La Voz De Los Ninos / Accion Por Los Cisnes / Tralcao (Lugar De Truenos) / Hominidos (Historia De Seres Nerviosos) / Los Trabajadores / E-N-E-U-J (Esto No Es Un Juego) / Boletos Para Ir

Musicians:
Alfonso Banda - guitar, ebow, percussion
Fernando Altamirano - vocals, trutruca
Francisco Martin - bass, piano, trompe, didgeridoo
Karsten Contreras - vocals, ocarina
Peter Pfeiffer - tenor, baritone and soprano saxophones, didgeridoo, trutruca, ocarina
Rodrigo Gonzalez - drums, percussion

Guest Musicians:

Benjamin Ruz ? violin
Henry Veliz - trumpet

Discography:
El Mounstruo De 7 Cabezaz(2001)
Ensayo(2002)
La Isla De Los Muertos(2004)
Cuidad De Papel (2007)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin CL

Added: November 24th 2007
Reviewer: Tom Karr
Score:
Artist website: www.desooorden.cl
Hits: 3630
Language: english