The world of ‘progressive rock’ is one riddled with contradictions, especially today, when most of the bands that are generally seen to fall within its boundaries are arguably the very opposite of ‘progressive’ in their clear reliance on the influence of the classic prog acts of the 70s. Guapo, though, have a little more genuine claim to being ‘progressive’ than most of their contemporaries. Certainly the band is not especially original in the aesthetics of their sound, but there is something in their approach that bites a bit more keenly than the work of many others.
Perhaps it is largely the result of Guapo’s uncompromising approach that makes 'History of the Visitation' quite so convincing a display of experimentalism. This is prog that nods to the past instrumentally but takes on the attitude of modern avant-garde acts like Sunn O))) and Boris in the process. Don’t expect anything verging on the twee here. The twenty-six minute long 'The Pilman Radiant' is nothing if not a structural triumph. It bridges the immense gap of its duration with the ease of a well written pop song, veering effortlessly between the more extravagant and more restrained sides of the band’s musical personality.
The fact that the following tracks, the four minute 'Complex #7' and the eleven minute 'Tremors from the Future', do not sound insubstantial by way of comparison to the titanic opener, pays due tribute to Guapo’s compositional ability. It’s one thing being experimental over a half hour; it is another to condense that experimental bent into more standardised song frameworks as Guapo do here. There is constant tweaking of the band’s sound into ever more fascinating shapes. Perhaps strangely, 'Complex #7' is most impressive. Acting as an upgrade of mid-period Floyd attempts at atmospherics, it utilises subtle organ textures alongside a delicious array of found sounds to create a brilliantly judged mood piece at the halfway point.
With 'History of the Visitation', Guapo have made a modern progressive record that emphasises not only their formidable talents but also their place at the top of the experimental rock tree at the current time. Its obtuseness will not be for many, but for those who choose to take on the journey, this is a record that is sure to reveal many wonders over consistent listening.
'History of the Visitation' is out now via Cuneiform Records.
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Perhaps it is largely the result of Guapo’s uncompromising approach that makes 'History of the Visitation' quite so convincing a display of experimentalism. This is prog that nods to the past instrumentally but takes on the attitude of modern avant-garde acts like Sunn O))) and Boris in the process. Don’t expect anything verging on the twee here. The twenty-six minute long 'The Pilman Radiant' is nothing if not a structural triumph. It bridges the immense gap of its duration with the ease of a well written pop song, veering effortlessly between the more extravagant and more restrained sides of the band’s musical personality.
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