The High Fidelity Orchestra ‎– The High Fidelity Orchestra (1984, CD, Mexico)

Tracklist:

1. Las Hormigas 3:42

2. Ocho veces para arriba y abajo 3:54

3. La procession de los patos sin cabeza 4:54

4. Si los caballos no piensan porque los eligen presidentes 3:21

5. Piel morena 2:46

6. Anacronia 5:25

7. Blue 7:01

8. Oriente Express 4:45

9. Las montanas de la Luna 3:20

Line-up:

Jesus Gonzalez - electric & acoustic guitars, synthesizers & piano, percussion

Rene Romero - semi-acoustic guitar 

Raymundo Barajas - drums & marimba 

Gilberto Gonzalez - bass

Guest musicians:

Alex Elsenring - keyboards on 2, 3, 5, & 6 guitar on 5 & 6

Miguel Samperio - sax on 7

Cuauhtemoc Novelo (of Nazca) - congas on 5

Ernesto Ramirez - marimba on 8

A Mexican Prog band from early-80's, centered around guitarist/keyboardist Jesus Gonzalez, who was the main composer of the group, propably hailing from Guadalajara and having tight links with Avant/Chamber Rockers Nazca.The original quartet included also Rene Romero on guitar, Gilberto Gonzalez on bass and Raymundo Barajas on drums.They recorded their self-titled debut in just a few days during September 82' at the Arycd Studios and this work features guest appearances by Nazca's Cuauhtemoc Novelo on congas and Alex Eisenring on synthesizers.It was released either the same or the following year on the unknown Maggot label, which was been possibly fronted by Gonzalez himself.

An extremely short LP at around 23 minutes, ''High Fidelity Orchestra'' is weird album of KING CRIMSON-ian complex Heavy/Fusion surrounded by some psychedelic/atmospheric colors through the use of synthesizers and highlighted by an extremely talented guitarist, who's style was absolutely fiery, technical and frenetic.The music is mostly complex, instrumental Progressive Rock from the 75'-81' KING CRIMSON period with jazzy underlines, full of sudden breaks, changing tempos, sinister grooves, time signatures and syncopated rhythms.They sound a bit abstract at moments, but every spin reveals new details and strong consistency in the group's instrumental blowout, perfectly supported by impressive bass work and a great drummer.The mellow parts have an evident psychedelic atmosphere, while the more synth-drenched parts even contain a light sense of melody closer to compatriots ICONOCLASTA and DELIRIUM, who were dominating the Mexican Prog scene of the time, trying to mix guitar-based Prog Rock with synth-led Fusion.The very short ''Piel morena'' even contains some marimba tunes in an attempt by the band to add a more Ethnic touch in their otherwise complicated material, while the dramatic synth lines on the closing ''Anacronia'' have a certain symphonic nature.

I hate to say that I have not listen to the reissue of the album by Smogless Records, which contains a few bonus tracks, recorded around mid-80'd by the band.But even this original listening offers an extremely technical and interesting Prog Rock by The High Fidelity Orchestra with the very limited time length leaving the listener starving for more.Strongly recommended, propably the CD reissue is a more essential purchase than the original vinyl. (apps79)