El Tubo Elastico - 2018 - Impala

(50:30; El Tubo Elastico)

Track list:
1. Ingravido 9:37
2. Antiheroe 8:49
3. Turritopsis Nutricula 5:35
4. El Acelerador De Picotas Pt. I. Ignicion 8:02
5. El Acelerador De Picotas Pt. II. Colision 4:33
6. La Avispoteca 6:35
7. Impala Formidable 7:19

Line-up:
Daniel Gonzalez - guitars, keyboards, programming
Vizen Rivas - guitars, programming
Carlos Cabrera - drums, percussion
Alfonso Romero - bas, keyboards, programming
with:
Guillermo Cides - Chapman Stick
Ant Romero - percussion
Tom Pannell - voice


Prolusion.
Spanish band El Tubo Elsatico has been around for just about a decade by now from what I can see, with their self-titled debut album appearing back in 2014 and their most recent production being the live album "El Tubo Elastico En Directo". In between those two productions the band launched the studio album "Impala" back in 2018, a creation that just like their other albums was self released by the band.

Analysis.
The specialty of this band, at least so far in their career, is to explore the instrumental parts of the progressive rock universe. The band name is presumably something of an indicator as to how this band goes about this task, as the music explored here is a rather elastic one, and the landscapes explored come with properties that should please many that tends to focus on the progressive aspect of the genre description.

The most defining aspect of this album is that it is very much an expressive and playful production, with the main secondary property being that the landscapes explored comes with an atmospheric laden nature. Perhaps more in feel than in actual execution as far as the latter aspect is concerned, as this by no means is an album that warrants any description along the lines of being dreamladen or otherwise compelling in a smooth and flowing manner. Instead I'd describe this production as a bit more of an edgier affair, where the arrangements tend to be tight, with compelling grooves established in quite a few cases, and while harder edged doesn't exactly describe the tendencies I come across here it is probably the best description to give overall, in the context of this album with more of a vibrant and tight feel to a greater extent than an actual hard one though.

I would be very much surprised of the band members here aren't familiar with artists such as Robert Fripp and Trey Gunn, as the majority of the compositions here feature playful and quirky arrangements and instrument details that come with an expressive edge and an execution I tend to describe as Crimsonian or Frippian in nature. This tendency alternates with and blends with similar playful, elegant and expressive details that come across as having a bit more of a jazzrock origin. In between those and also mixed with the aforementioned twosome we also have more atmospheric oriented escapades that, at least in part, stray closer to the post-rock tradition at times. With the compositions seamlessly wandering back and forth between this trio of orientations and mix and blend elements from each of them with something of a gleeful approach. An additional ebb and flow style momentum is how the band move back and forth between more sparse and careful arrangements and more fleshed out and layered constructions. These movements in styler and intensity does tend to be of a subtle variety though, as this isn't an album about sudden alterations or dramatic shifts, as subtle and logical transitions and developments is at the forefront here.

The mix and production manage to get the best out of the landscapes explored here, with an efficient balance of the instruments and enough clarity and separation applied to keep track of what is going on also in the more expressive parts of the material.

Conclusion.
If you have an appetite for instrumental progressive rock with a more expansive and expressive edge that is explored with an adventurous spirit, this sophomore production by Spanish band El Tubo Elastico is one that will merit an inspection. If you can imagine Robert Fripp and Trey Gunn playing around with jazzrock elements and post-rock details while writing instrumental material for an early 80's version of King Crimson, then your mind should have a little bit of a general idea about how the music on this album will pan out. For those who find that this sounds interesting as well, chances are rather good that they will enjoy the landscapes traversed on this production.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, August 2023

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/ElTuboElastico