After their album Quentadharkën from 2004 her is the new CD by Spanish progressive folk formation Amarok (which means wolf in Eskimo language). The musical brainchild is Robert Santamaria who played in Venezuolan symphonic prog band Tapobran but later moved to Spain. He is the main composer, writer and he plays an impressive range of instruments, from keyboards, accordion and Turkish saz to Iranian santur, dulcimer, xylophone and glockenspiel, this is the second coming of Mike Oldfield on Tubular Bells!

On the new album entitled Sol De Medianoche Robert is assisted by five other band members and a series of guest musicians on instruments like electric and Spanish guitar, violin, trumpet, Tibetan chant and cymbals. The sound of Amarok is firmly rooted in folk/ethnic music but it scouts the border with jazz, fusion and symphonic prog. The climates are often Eastern sounding, due to the great vocals by Marta Segura (powerful and expressive), she carries you away to Arabia, Turkey and Iran! The huge array of (often ethnic) instruments gives the music an extra, very captivating dimension like the assorted woodwind, brass and percussion instruments.

Some examples: a sultry atmosphere with varied woodwind and flute instruments, a piece with sparkling piano and jazzy guitar (by the known jazz guitar player Andres Oleagui) and a final part with organ and saxophone in Hermits, lots of dynamics (from swinging Hammond organ and soaring violin-Mellotron to dreamy piano and powerful trumpet) in Wnedigo, swinging violin, electric guitar and fluent synthesizer runs in Eight Touts and a cascade of shifting moods in the intricate Xionmao II (longing vocals, sensitive guitar an acceleration with organ and brass and Spanish guitar with lush Mellotron and Hammond). I was also delighted about the very special rendition of Keith Emerson his composition Abaddons Bolero featuring assorted percussion, accordion, didgeridoo and a final part with organ and trumpet. I am curious what the master thinks about it!

If you like progressive folk that blends with jazz, fusion and symphonic prog, this CD is captivating and exciting musical adventure!

Erik Neuteboom