Detailed Review ["Luna Negra Records" - Overall View, Part I - PERFUME DE MUJER - 1996]

"Luna Negra" - Overall View, Part II
PERFUME DE MUJER (Cuba) - 1996 - "La Ultima Cena"/"Aquarium"
(72 min, CD-LN-02)

All music by PDM. All lyrics by Abel. Recorded 'live in the studio' "Casa de la Musica" on January 22, 1995.

Line-up: Abel O.Perez - vocals, synthesizers; Orlando Bernal - electric guitar, synthesizers. Guest musicians: Alejandro Frameta - bass guitar; Alden del Toro - drums; Olsen del Toro - percussion; Pedro Pablo Pedroso - violin; Igor Urquiza - mandolin; Manuel Clua - flute; Alejandro del Valle - accordion; Salli Perez - vocals

All music by PDM. All lyrics by Abel. Recorded 'live in the studio' "Casa de las Americas" on June 25, 1995.

Line-up: Abel O.Perez - vocals, bass guitar, organ, electronic drums; Orlando Bernal - electric guitar, electronic drums. Guest musicians: Pedro Pablo Pedroso - violin; Igor Urquiza - acoustic guitar; Manuel Clua - flute

This CD contains the first two PDM albums, because originally they were composed at different times and recorded separately. Both were recorded, however, as 'live in the studio' because of financial problems'. Due to the same cause they were not released in time until "Luna Negra" came to being on the North American part of the globe of Progressive Rock labels. As far as I know, the only Cuban recording company "Amigo" has always willingly released a lot of various styles of contemporary music, including traditional Jazz, for free, but its leaders probably don't consider the complex music PDM and some other (serious!) Cuban bands perform as vital for the Cubans. As for "LN", I see both PDM albums are included in one CD not only because they're short (about 36 min of playing time each), but also because they are the only two PDM albums that are more or less similar. Already on the debut album PDM shows real maturity in songwriting, musicianship and performance, and their style is distinctly original. Unlike some reviewers, I understand that any art, I mean art in general, has some roots-influences with some of these roots in the distant past. There are no artists on Earth, contemporary or from the past, that are totally free of influences in their creation. But when I don't see any distinct influences in some artist's creation I am sure this is an original work. It could be more or less original work in case when I still find some insignificant influences. Some bands have some obvious influences, but it's alright if they use them convincingly. Some bands don't have ideas of their own at all. For example, the guys from the UK's pseudo progressive band Grey Lady Down "compose" music that is just a set of influences, or a set of stolen structures, particularly from Marillion and Anglagard, let alone a few others. Their stylistic "twins" Galahad, Deyss, etc are in the same company. Back to PDM (and all the "LN" bands in general!), their originality is very distinct already on their first album. "La Ultima Cena" presents an innovative blend of such well known genres as Art Rock, its Symphonic 'part' plus bits of Jazz Fusion and have as a result not very complex yet another new manifestation of RIO, regardless of plenty of vocals. "Aquarium" is about the same picture, though some compositions here are almost purely acoustic, and also instrumental parts are more large-scale than on the PDM debut work and, by the way, now it's clear that PDM is a band developing with each new album. The rating you see above is common for both albums. Oh, I've just understood, the term that would be more or less exact to define the style of early PDM, especially the style of their debut: this is the very first and the only example of Neo-RIO, simply excellent school for all those potentially into the RIO genre! Wow, these guys create important, I would say very useful music being "in the beginning"! Really, I should add them a half of star for this. In addition, here just a few thoughts about RIO. Speaking seriously, in full conformity with truly serious music as RIO is, this style doesn't stand any repetitions almost never and actually almost all those bands that perform RIO or even simply (?!) RIO-sounding music have their own distinctly original way of composing, arranging and performing. If briefly, this is Rock music that is much closer to Classical (or Neo-Classical) music than any other kind of Rock genres (styles). I am sure there is no meaning to remember even the most complex works of Symphonic Prog (from Rick Wakeman, The Nice and even ELP) to contest my conclusion.

VM. November 16, 2000