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Luz de Riada — Rizoma
(ProgRock Essentials no#, 2024, CD / DL)

by Peter Thelen, Published 2024-08-29

Rizoma Cover art

It was over eleven years ago that we reviewed Cuentos y Fábulas, the debut of Luz de Riada, an excellent quartet from Mexico City led by Ramses Luna, the former saxophonist of Cabezas de Cera. Between then and 2016 the band released two more albums (all part of the Cuentos y Fabulas trilogy, including one live album) and then went on hiatus, or so it seemed. In 2020 the band released a two-part fourteen-minute single titled Aurumboros with an entirely new lineup save Luna, and none other than ex-Crimson Pat Mastelotto on drums, with Luis Nasser (from Sonus Umbra) on bass. Four years later, a shorter version of that track is the opener on the new album Rizoma. The personnel on Rizoma is the core trio of Luna (saxophone, flute, wind synthesizer, and vocals), Nasser (bass), and Sergio Aldama (drums, except on the cuts where a guest drummer is involved), with sound man Edgar Arrellin being an integral part of the band. Guests include the aforementioned Mastelotto, drummer Mattias Olsson (Änglagård and many others) on the closing track “1915,” with guitarists Tim McCaskey (also from Sonus Umbra on acoustic) and Enoc Jiménez (electric on three of the album’s tracks), plus Maria Lúcia dal Farra (vocals on one track) and Floriano Martins (poetry on another). Throughout there is a strong progressive rock influence present and in particular on the cuts where electric guitar is present, King Crimson, though with Luna’s variety of instrumentation the take is quite unique. The songwriting is shared between Luna and Nasser, either separately or in collaboration. The first vocal tune one encounters is “Entropia,” another curious mix of 80s Crim and a dreamy backdrop of synths with electronic sounds befitting Ozrics swirling around in the background; the vocals are entirely in Spanish. The opening minute of “La Danza del Tlacololero” is quite interesting, a powerful sax chorus that almost hints at something symphonic, before a smoking groove takes over, providing a powerful cadence with acoustic guitar highlights. Aldama and Nasser make for one amazing and tight rhythm section on every track where they play together, and provide Luna with all the space he needs to stretch out. Have to say, this is one of those rare albums where every cut is a standout. Good to have Luz de Riada back in action again.

Filed under: New releases, 2024 releases

Related artist(s): Luz de Riada, Pat Mastelotto

More info
http://luzderiada.bandcamp.com/album/rizoma-16-bit

 

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