| # | Artist | Song (click to play) | Album | Year | CD label |
| 1 | Tempano | Las Olas (Virginia Woolf) | Ayabal-Yemal | 1979 | Musea |
| Possibly the only progressive album of note from Venezuela. It is a floating symphonic with some jazzy qualities. The band has recently reformed, played at Baja Prog festival in 1999, and are also releasing a new album very soon. The CD re-issue of Ayabal-Yemal includes 3 excellent new songs by the reformed band. I actually like the new material better, so I have good hopes for their new album. | |||||
| 2 | Nexus | El ultimo ritual | Detras del Umbral | 1999 | Record Runner |
| A brand new symphonic band, with a very digital over-produced sound. The songs have many nods to classic progressive bands like ELP and King Crimson, but, overall the music is in a more modern mainstream direction like the Flower Kings and Spock's Beard. It is good, but, does not compel me to go back for further listens much. They will be playing at both Baja Prog and Nearfest in the year 2000. | |||||
| 3 | Arco Iris | Canto del P jaro Dorado | Sudamerica | 1972 | Music Hall |
| Very interesting and original progressive with touches of jazz, blues and psych. This album has a very interesting "ancient times" kind of vibe to it that I find very appealing. They utilize many folk instruments, as well as a full array of rock instruments including sax and flute. | |||||
| 4 | La Biblia | Moises | La Biblia | 1974 | Music Hall |
| This is an Argentinian super-group project. The rock musicians participating include Billy Bond and members of most of the most important bands of the time. The project also includes a full symphony orchestra. The music is based around the album of the same name by the band Vox Dei. Some of the album sounds like Sui Generis (especially when Charlie Garcia is singing), other parts remind of Beach Boys type vocal harmonies. The orchestration makes it sound like the Moody Blues _Days of Future Passed_. Sometimes the album gets down into a funky psychedelic jam that reminds of Aphrodite's Child. Overall, it is a bit of a patchwork that does not flow together well, but, it is interesting. | |||||
| 5 | Los Jaivas | La Poderosa Muerte | Alturas De Macchu Picchu | 1981 | Columbia/Sony |
| Many consider this to be their masterpiece. It may well be, but, they have so many albums that I have not heard, yet, that it is hard to say. It is quite awesome and the best of theirs that I have heard so far. This album was recorded at a time when Los Jaivas had already been living in Europe for a long time. There sound is an amazing mix of the most sophisticated progressive music with Chilean folk music. | |||||