Newsgroup: it.arti.musica.rock.progressive
Titolo: J. L. F. Ledesma Q. - Dicen que somos dioses...

José Luis Fernàndez Ledesma Q. - Dicen que somos dioses y nos soñamos
hombres.
Preso alla progvention. Mi è stato spacciato per RIO.. Certamente ha
dei momenti complessi e melodicamente ingarbugliati, però non mi
sembra propriamente *RIO*. Comunque ha dei suoni molto morbidi e
delicati che in alcuni tratti possono riportare a certo classico prog
romantico, mentre in altri sono gustosamente originali. La voce
femminile, un po' troppo "liricamente folcloristica" non mi esalta.
Bel disco, comunque (copertina -
http://www.shroomangel.com/shroom/images/ledesmahombres.jpg
).
Nessuno sa niente di costui (cos'altro ha fatto, da dove viene, dove
va)?

 Subject: Sol Central
Hello list, I recently had the good fortune of getting the "Sol Central" CD
by Jose Luis Fernandez Ledesma Q. and Margarita Botello from Luna Negra.
It's not quite "e-prog2" but who cares - this list seems to have developed
to a more general progressive list anyway (not a bad thing IMO). Their style
is reminiscent of Magma and Univers Zero; some Gentle Giant, Canterbury prog
and Zappa influences can be heard here and there. (A note to Captain MDA:
yeah, this albums is probably not your cup of tea...) To my ears this album
is, simply put, amazing! All songs are strong, varied and exceptionally well
played. Margarita Botello's vocals are gorgeous (also Alquimia guests on one
track - their voices blend together beautifully). The stuff is reasonably
complex, sometimes approaching classical music in a similar way to Univers
Zero. All in all, this is one of the absolutely best progressive albums I
have heard lately (only one other recent progressive album excited me as
much as this one: Zinkl & Alquimia's "Underwater" - now that is DEFINITELY
e-prog2!) Bottom line: if you're into Zeuhl and RIO -type prog, you can't
afford to miss "Sol Central"! The album is available from Luna Negra.

 elettronica e percussioni etniche del centroamerica.
(cut)
io ho "Motivos para perderse", un album decisamente romantico

 Chi te lo ha rifilato? Raoul rosso malpelo immagino.
Indovinato!
Grazie per le recensioni, le avevo già trovate anch'io...in più
rilancio di queste:
Biography
Latin music is fused with futuristic electronics by Mexico-born
Alquima. While her basic tracks feature vocals and piano, Alquima
enhances her recordings with layers of looped vocals, electronic
processors, sound effects, samples, synthesizers, gongs and bells. The
result is a sound that combines the musical traditions of Latin
America with influences of rock, pop, avant garde, classical and
improvisational music. According to "Audion" magazine, "(Alquima) aims
to dazzle, entrance , relax and excite, and, does so on all counts".
Alquima's debut album, "Coatlicue -- Goddess Of The Earth", released
in 1992, featured a nine part title track and five individual pieces.
her second album, "Wings Of Perception", released in 1995, was
inspired, by what she told an interviewer, "my experiences in the
Yucatan region of Mexico, the mysticism of the ancient temples and my
reading of the works of Carlos Castaneda". Alquima recorded her third
album, "Dead Tongues", in 1996 with Mexican composer Jose Luis
Fernandez Ledesma, who played Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, percussion,
voices, shells, flutes and electronic sounds. The daily Mexican
newspaper called "Dead Tongues", "the best Mexican album of its kind
this decade". Alquima divides her time between studying music and
mysticism in London and composing and recording in her own studios in
London and Mexico City. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALQUIMIA/J-L FERNANDEZ LEDESMA-Dead Tongues $15.00
"Imagine a classical composer writing a gothic symphony for a
multi-faceted electronic musician, who in concert was aided by Mayan
musicians, a haunting, often operatic singer, & a psychic
intermittently channeling the spirits of the dead - that pretty much
sums up this fascinating album."- Goldmine.
JOSÉ LUIS FERNANDEZ LEDESMA/MARGARITA BOTELLO-Sol Central (Mexico)
$13.00
"Mexico is well known for its fine contributions to progressive rock,
but I am still surprised by the ambitiousness of this fine release
(which) equally emphasizes the lush, symphonic attributes of classical
prog with the forward-looking ambition of the RIO movement. Consisting
of a 35 minute, 7-part masterwork and a pensive 9 minute closer...one
might occasionally be reminded of Jade Warrior (Island period),
Thinking Plague, or even Opus Avantra...a wonderful, mystical,
dangerous opus..."-Exposé.
Jose Luis Fernandez Ledesma Q. & Margarita Botello/Sol Central (2000 -
Luna Negra)
A great new release from Mexico. Most of the instruments are played by
Jose Luis Fernandez Ledesma Q. with a few guest musicians. Vocals are
by Margarita Botello sometimes resembling a Zeuhl-ish tone ala Eskaton
or more avant like in Thinking Plague. The music is pretty diverse a
healthy dose of world music sounding landscapes mixed with Thinking
Plague or 5UU's styled RIO/Avant Prog. This is a highly recommended
release!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jose Luis FERNANDEZ LEDESMA Q. & Margarita BOTELLO - Sol Central 
(Luna Negra)
Lorsque mon rédac&#8217;chef préféré (hé hé hé) me proposa la
chronique de ce disque, je ne pût m&#8217;empêcher de répondre :
«Jose Luis FERNAN­DEZ LEDESMA Q.? Je connais et j&#8217;adore son
disque solo Motivos para Perderse sorti en 96 et son travail avec
NIRGAL VALLIS sur Y murio la Tarde en 1984.» Après moult péripéties
diverses pour obtenir enfin ce CD (merci à la «lune noire» en
passant), j&#8217;ai pu enfin jeter mes deux oreilles sur cet ovni (un
de plus, on est dans TRAVERSES, pas de panique).
A priori, Sol Central se présente comme un concept ou une inspiration
littéraire puisque la pièce qui porte ce titre se divise en 7 parties
pour un total de presque 36 minutes. Elle est suivie par le morceau
Pueblos Perdidos, qui fait office de «coda». (Et l&#8217;album en
avait bien besoin pour aboutir à une durée honorable, afin de ne pas
être qualifié d&#8217;arnaque !) Le beau J.L.F.L.Q. (c&#8217;est
nettement plus court, merci) se crédite ainsi aux «manipulations
soniques, claviers, percussions, kalimba, ocarinas, cordes et voix».
Il est épaulé par sa collègue Margarita BOTELLO (chant, effets vocaux,
basse et per­cussions). Quelques invités sont présents, ajoutant une
couleur musicale différente avec du sax, de la trompette (Germàn
BRINGAS), des atmosphères vocales (ALQUIMIA) ou du hautbois (Marcela
ALBEAR) sur certains titres.
La musique est foncièrement différente de ce que le musicien nous
avait donné à entendre auparavant, que ce soit avec NIRGAL VALLIS ou
en solo. De très nombreux passages se rap­prochent de son deuxième
disque solo Extractos (1997), qui était tout de même un sommet
soporifique. En effet, la musique ambient pointe son nez assez souvent
dans ce disque, mais avec talent et pertinence, et un sens constant du
renouvellement harmonique.
Les points forts sont incontestablement les voix (Margarita est une
chanteuse hors pair) et cette faculté à mélanger les instruments
acousti­ques, électriques, électroniques et électro-acoustiques de
façon parfaite. Ainsi la relative courte durée du CD (45 minutes)
est-elle large­ment contrebalancée par le flot d&#8217;idées
ininterrompu de l&#8217;ensemble, formant un tout hautement
réjouissant.
Sol Central nous projette dans un espace pro­téiforme qui nécessite
une attention de tous les instants, car il est clair que cet album ne
cher­che pas à s&#8217;inscrire dans un genre particulier, mais tire
sa force de la myriade d&#8217;éléments qui le constituent. On peut du
reste établir un rap­prochement, au moins dans la démarche, avec
l'album A Mere Coincidence du SCIENCE GROUP de Chris CUTLER et Stevan
TICKMAYER.
Et comme un hasard n&#8217;arrive jamais seul, le même Chris CUTLER
s&#8217;est fendu de quelques lignes élogieuses sur l&#8217;album qui
sont reprodui­tes dans le livret. C&#8217;est dire si ce nouveau
chef-d&#8217;&#339;uvre de ce Mexicain décidément hors pair
qu&#8217;est LEDESMA peut sans forcer être consi­déré comme une pièce
maîtresse de l&#8217;avant-garde progressive d&#8217;Amérique
centrale. Comme quoi, même en écoutant un disque à l'ombre, on peut
attraper un coup de «soleil»...
R.«J.L.F.L.Q.R.S.T.U.V.W.X.Y.Z.»O./S.F. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jose L.F. Ledesma Q. (Mexico) - 1997 - "Extractos"
(67 min, "Luna Negra" CD-LN-03 )
The full name of the hero (who is a real Hero of Progressive Rock,
btw) is Jose Luis Fernandez Ledesma Q., though I don't really know
what the last letter stands for. But what I do know is that
"Extractos" is not Luis's debut studio album, as I've lately noticed
another one from him, dated of 1994, in the back Musea catalogue!
Those of you who have read my review on Jose's collaborative work with
Maria Botello already get a hint at the musical ways this Mexican
maestro goes. "Extracts", taken from the various, mainly "theatrical
musical albums" of our hero (and I really wonder how fruitful this
unique composer is!), however, show another creative side of this true
Master of Muse. Speaking specifically, "Extractos" represent a melodic
yet quite complex at the same time, simply brilliant mixture of
Neo-Classical Music with structures (arrangements, etc) directly
relating to Classic Symphonic Progressive Rock. The majority of
compositions are pure instrumentals and a larger part have practically
real acoustic sounding - with pianos, acoustic guitar and bass, flute,
violin, etc and sometimes with gentle yet exceptionally tasteful and
masterly work of percussion. Even pieces created with help of electric
musical instruments have the same warm, almost acoustic sounding:
first of all because all rich orchestrations (as well as everything on
the album, though) were performed by maestro wonderfully. Angelic
female voices of true 'operatic quality' can be heard on both vocal
based tracks, while vocalizing on track 13 goes over mind-blowing
development of arrangements, the most complex and intricate on
"Extractos", although Marzodel 42 sounds less than 5 minutes. What can
I add here, apart from the words depicting my great love for the music
of Luis Ledesma? But these words were said already, and need I really
define a word as love? Still, I'll add something more... This is not
simply a sure-footed classic for the future, this is immortal music.
Also, believe it or not, I feel this wonderful harmonious music with
some mysterious positive energy in itself, is even able to heal!
Though, of course, you could response to that like: "Thanks, I'm
healthy, but what about the music?" All right, do you remember my
attitude to 'progressive' Neo-Classical band The Enid from the UK
(it's very positive, just read my reviews:
http://www.progressive.net/reviews/enid_1979.html
 and
http://www.progressor.net/e.html#enid_1978
)? Then know, being compared
to any work from Enid music of Luis Ledesma is more harmonious,
smoother, warmer, more inspiring and... much better after all! So,
since I use the six-star rating system, I think I should take away a
half of the sixth star at least from The Enid's "Touch Me" album. Just
listen to both these works and compare.
VM. December 11, 2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jose Luis Fernandez Ledesma Q. / Margarita Botello - "Sol Central"
(Mexico) 2000
(45 min, "Luna Negra") 
 
Prologue. The hero of this review, whose full name includes another
two words (they do it like that - sometimes they give the full name),
and who has in reality something in common with Columbus, because he
with his creation does no less than discover new territories for
progressive rock, put out, together with singer Margarita Botello, his
second album in general and for the excellent Mexican label Luna Negra
in particular.
The album. Generally, however, the music and the singing are here so
independent from everything heard before, that only a person who knows
our genre inside out will realize why for example an apple tree has
among other apples not even a pear or a pineapple, but something
totally unknown, wonderfully delicious, and the taste is completely
new. Still, the 'insider-out' sees that this strange fruit grows on
the apple tree, he just sees it. And though the taste tells something
different, even contradictory, turned upside down and dusted with
powdered sugar, the 'insider-out' feels that the powdered sugar, like
sand in the eyes (and this to him?), clouds his sight of the apple
tree, but his memory is good, thanks to God, and he trusts it not to
lie to him.
Summary. A pure masterpiece in all possible and impossible meanings of
this cocnrete word.
VM. October 23, 2000 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jose Luis Fernandez Ledesma Q and Margarita Botello: Sol Central
Luna Negra  (CDLN-12)  
José Luis Fernández Ledesma Q and Margarita Botello's album Sol
Central is a really thrilling album. This is an album that would have
suited the magnificent Cuneiform Records label perfectly. It is
however released on the Mexican label Luna Negra. This was a new
experience for me, but I have heard that this is José Luis Fernández
Ledesma Q's second album, but his first collaboration with Margarita
Botello on vocals.
The album's track listing is Sol Central (35:45), Datura Inoxia,
Amnesia, El avatar, Por los cuatro costados, La gran feria, Ciencias
celester, La de los acertijos/Pueblos perdidos (9:03). This kind of
experimental music has similarities to bands such as Eskaton, Forever
Einstein, Henry Cow, Dave Kerman & 5UU's, King Crimson, Magma,
Thinking Plague and Volapük. I guess that the music may be to extreme
even for many progressive rock fans, but if you're familiar with and
like the artist on the Cuneiform label you will love this album as
much as I do. This is one of the top releases from 2000, a progressive
masterpiece. Check it out!
Sol Central (CDLN-12) is released on the Luna Negra label For more
information contact Luna Negra S.C., Apartado Postal 27, San Juan del
Rio, Qro., México 76800; tel: (52) 427 204 87, email:
Luna...@sjr.podernet.com.mx
. For more information about José Luis
Fernández Ledesma Q, contact him at Arteaga y Salazar 1046, Contadero,
Cuajimalpa, 05500, México, D.F.; tel: 58 12 04 35.
reviewed by Greger Ronnqvist
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
José Luis Fernández Ledesma Q. / Margarita Botello Sol Central - 2000
Luna Negra (CD)
Sol central 35:45
Datura Inoxia (Botello, JLFLQ) Amnesia (Botello, JLFLQ) El avatar Por
los cuatro costados La gran feria Ciencias celestes (Alquimia, JLFLQ)
La de los acertijos
Pueblos perdidos 9:03 All titles composed by JLFLQ, except where
otherwise indicated Margarita Botello voz, efectos vocales, sinte
bajo, percusiones José Luis Fernández Ledesma Q. manipulación sónica,
teclados, cuerdas punteadas, percusiones, kalimba, ocarinas, voz with:
Marcela Albear oboe (2,4) Alquimia voz y atmósferas (6) Germán Bringas
sax y trompeta (6,8) Leonardo Patiño loops de bataca (5)

 va)?
Da un vecchio numero di Wonderous Stories...
Josč Luis Fernandez Ledesma Q.
"Motivos Para Perderse"
FGBG 
4190.AR
Musea 1996
El Acueducto
La Montana de los Encuentros
Ottla
La cindad de las mil columnas
La espiral
Remanso
El Arbor de Indigo
La Huida
Relatos del Agua
Motivos para perderse
(Durata: 52'30'')
Josč Luis Fernandez Ledesma Quintana č un giovane compositore messicano.
Polistumentista, Fernandez Ledesma propone un prog molto lirico, dominato da
intrecci di chitarre acustiche e tastiere, che lo avvicinano per ispirazione
a Jean Pascal Boffo o agli spagnoli Galadriel. I dieci brani, quasi
interamente strumentali, scorrono con buona continuitą, alternando alle
parti pił introspettive squarci ritmici molto solari, di chiara derivazione
etnica. In generale l'album soffre di una ridondanza sonora che in alcuni
punti puņ risultare fastidiosa e dell'utilizo di ritmiche elettroniche
programmate in maniera non sempre convincente, ma presenta anche spunti
interessanti.
C
-----------------------------------------------------------
Editor - Wonderous Stories magazine
www.wonderoustories.it