Detailed Reviews [Jaume De Viala - 2019 - "Sonoritat De Mil Miralls"]

Prolusion. Spanish composer and musician Jaume De Viala is probably an artist not too many are familiar with, unless they are Spanish and have paid close attention to the Spanish music scene over the years. While information about him is sparse online, the CD states that he used to be a member of the band Celobert Magic in the late 1970's and early 1980's. "Sonoritat De Mil Miralls" is the first of his two solo albums so far, and was self released back in 2019. His second solo,album appeared in January 2023.

Analysis. From the description given in the CD booklet, my understanding is that the material on this solo album are rearranged songs from Viala's tenure with the aforementioned band Celobert Magic. Material that originally had something of a folk music dimension to them that now have been reinvented with a bit more of a fusion and progressive rock vibe to them. It is a quite interesting blend of musical ideas we get here. While folk music elements are present they have been dampened a lot in this modern version, but obviously I don't know to what extent. Many of the songs come with a soft flow and momentum to them that for me resides on the borderlands between jazz and jazzrock somewhere, and will perhaps be better described as fusion than anything else. And while I don't know if this was a feature in the original material or not, quite a few of the songs strikes me as perhaps being more of a jazz pop style than more purebred jazz excursions as such, creations more simple and elegant in form and execution but without the intricate instrument details and note progressions I associate with jazz. The most interesting aspects of this production are the compositions that approach a more progressive rock oriented expression however. Not because of the progressive rock elements as such, but because these cuts by and large present material arranged and executed with a bit more detail and sophistication in general and due to that also becoming more interesting landscapes to explore. Like the rest of this album these compositions tend to be soft, smooth and dreamladen as well, for most of them with the flute being a central provider of solo runs alongside the guitar, and with various types of keyboards also having a more prominent role overall. The combination of flowing otherworldly landscapes, folk music elements and a bit of a jazzrock undercurrent on these songs all adds up to one very distinct association for me, and that is the legendary English progressive rock band Camel. The CD description namedrop King Crimson and Steve Hackett for this aspect of the album, but for me at least it is only the latter of those that I can hear trace elements of here and there. On the other hand, fans of Camel will find a lot of familiar sounding material here.

Conclusion. This first solo album by Spanish musician Jaume De Viala is a creation that plays upon quite a few different dimensions, with compositions that have been brought from the past and revised to a more present tradition, and music that incorporate elements from folk music, jazz, fusion and progressive rock and quite possibly a bit of older pop music traditions too. My main impression here is that those with an interest in easygoing jazz and fusion crossing over to pop music territories that also have a bit of a passion for the ethereal and dreamladen landscapes explored by bands similar to Camel will be just about the perfect audience for this album. Jazz, pop and progressive rock, blended and mixed in a few different manners and with something of a fusion undercurrent in existence throughout.

Progmessor: January 2023
The Rating Room