The Argentinean prog magazine Mellotron not only is a true work of art, it also sports a superb compilation CD with each issue (for subscribers only). The last edition of that sampler contained material by Zello, Drama, Anekdoten, Iluvatar, Mostly Autumn and the Brazilian instrumental monument Index. The title track from their self titled debut to me was the best track on that sampler and the main reason why I had to get my hands on a copy of the full album. It's mainly keyboard player Eliane Pisetta (a woman! at last!) and her vintage keyboards such as Hammond and Mini-Moog who sets the tone. Sometimes, like in the opening track "Quaterna Requiem", the music reminds me a bit of Fruitcake. Also guitarist Jones Junior is one of the main attractions on this album, something we were in fact expecting knowing he played guitar on Velha Gravura, Quaterna Requiem's first album. Maybe somewhere in the music of Index you'll hear a bit of Apocalypse in order to underline the melodic intensity of the music. Like I have written many times before, South-American bands have that little bit extra in order to add an extra texture to their somewhat typical music. It happens once again on this album where Jones Junior plays some splendid acoustic guitar in "Serenata." In "Ciclos Das Marés" gothic strings introduce the sentimental tunes of the acoustic guitar. My favourite remains the track I know from the sampler, "Index," where the Moog sounds remind me of the Wakeman highlights from his early period. It's a very powerful song demanding the best from each of the four members in order to finish this wonderful album on a high note. It's a song that contains the better elements from both Camel and Quaterna Requiem and folds them into one. Without any doubt Index is one of the better bands of this moment and no lover of progressive rock should be without a copy of this smashing album. Reviewed by: John 'Bo Bo' Bollenberg |
