Nimbus

Cast | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 1, 2004)
• Original Release Date: May 14, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Musea
• ASIN: B0002CKCU4
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #285,363 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Ladrona De Suenos (I. Parte Uno)

2. 911 (I. 911)

3. 911 (II. Next Day)

4. 911 (III. My New Home)

5. Volando En Uno Mismo

6. Sucio Nino Bien (I. Sucio Nino Bien)

7. Sucio Nino Bien (II. Suenos De Platino)

8. Dias De Sol Y Luz

9. Ladrona De Suenos (II. Parte Due - Puerto Prohibido)

10. Ladrona De Suenos (III. Parte Tre - Tragicomedia)

11. Un Singlo De Invierno (I. Cataclismo)

12. Un Singlo De Invierno (II. Esperanza Austral)

13. En La Cueva Y El Bosque

14. Reunion 2003

15. Hojarasca

16. Extension 17

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars By "Mark Hughes" http://www.dprp.net/reviews/200426.html, September 29, 2004

By 

Julex (Mexicali, BC Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nimbus (Audio CD)

Cast web Site:
http://www.CastLives.com/

I think that Cast are not letting the rest of the world in on a major scientific discovery they have made. Surely the only way they could have managed, in a mere ten years, to have released 20 CDs (many of which are double or packed to the limit of a single CD), organised eight successful Baja Prog festivals, maintained day jobs and still have a family life is for them to have unravelled the mysteries of time travel! Nimbus, the follow-up to 2003's double CD Al-bandaluz, continues the prolific output of this finest of Mexican bands with another eighty minutes of (mostly) new music. The ranks of the group have recently swelled with the addition of sixth member José 'Pepe' Torres who broadens the group sound by supplying saxophone, flute and clarinet. The other five musicians (Alfonso Vidales on keyboards, Francisco Hernández on vocals and guitars, Kiki King on drums and percussion, Carlos Humarán on lead guitars and Flavio Jiménez on bass) remain constant from the recording of Al-bandaluz.

The album opens with intent; the menacing, insistent keyboard riff, chunky guitars and wailing sax of the first part of Ladrona de Sueños captures the listener's attention and draws them into the album. There is a lot going on in this track that rewards repeated listenings. Two further parts to the song are sequenced further in the CD. Part two (subtitled Puerto Prohibido) is mainly keyboards and vocals while the rest of the group join in for the final part, the instrumental Tragicomedia. Both continue the somewhat menacing tone and a consistent theme is heard in each of the sections. I don't know why the three sections have been split up, they would have fitted together perfectly well as one piece (as programming the CD player to do just that proves!) However, I suppose if I understood the lyrics (all but two of the lyrical pieces are sung in Spanish) that may have been become evident!

Second track, 911 is also split into three parts but sequenced to run consecutively. The opening four-and-a-half minutes effectively combines keyboards, piano, guitar (acoustic and electric) and Spanish vocals building into the main part of the narrative, which is sung in English. A tale of death (the 911 refers to the US emergency services telephone number) this section didn't quite live up to the opening for me. However, things dramatically improve with the two instrumental sections Next Day and My New Home. I've always found Cast to be more expressive, and more adventurous, in their instrumental music and these two piece don't disappoint. The acoustic nature and flute of My New Home brings in echoes of Jethro Tull, although the ending seems to evaporate into thin air!

There are four other vocal pieces on the album: Sucio Nino Bien features some complex melodies and a nice guitar solo; Dias De Sol Y Luz is a slower number with the female vocals of guest singer Guadalupe Acuána contrasting nicely with those of Hernández; En La Cueva Y El Bosque is rather an anomaly coming across like a mediæval - classical cross; and Reunion 2003, is an acoustic reworking of a track from their 1994 debut album Landing In A Serious Mind which works well, particularly the layered vocals.

The instrumental tracks are what we have come to expect from Cast, lots of interplay between the instruments, dominant keyboards and an abundance of changes in time signatures. The addition of José Torres has provided an extra dimension and his role, particularly as a flautist on tracks such as Volando En Uno Mismo provide a more jaunty, lighter slant to proceedings. The opening to Cataclismo, the first part of Un Siglo De Invierno, is almost like Dream Theatre with its heavy guitar and bass drum onslaught but things soon settle down although the heavy offensive is resumed at the end of the second part of the song (Esperenza Austral). The CD ends with the more refrained, plaintive and acoustic Hojarasca and the altogether more jolly Extension 17.

I am full of admiration for this Mexican band. What they have achieved in their time is little short of outstanding. With Nimbus they have added to their already impressive catalogue of releases. However, although filling the CD provides good value for money, I feel that maybe the album is a touch too long. At the end of the album I felt I had heard enough for the time being and there was no reason to immediately play the album again. Maybe that is because it didn't suit a particular mood all the way through or because it lacked an exceptional track that immediately sent 'prog alert' messages to the appropriate sensory areas of the brain. Still, a good album of the consistent quality we have come to expect from these fine musicians and composers.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is one of at least 3 "Cast" groups., August 11, 2009

By 

Sandy R (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nimbus (Audio CD)

Please ignore the rating, as I have to give one to post a clarification. The other poster rated them a "5", so I'm doing the same, not to dilute the rating.

Mexican Prog Rock:
This is the Mexican prog-rock "Cast". I've seen them live, and the band seems to have close to a dozen members. They sound vaguely like early Genesis, with Spanish lyrics, of course.

Power Pop:
My favorite "Cast" is an entirely different group started by John Power, a former member of the power pop group "La's", or perhaps "The La's." This "Cast" is probably best known for their very solid album "All Change."

(C)Rap:
Lastly, in every sense of the word, is a rap (argh!) group also trying to use the name "Cast." I accidentally bought their album "Show Me The Money". Avoid this group unless you enjoy rap.

There may be other "Cast" groups out there, but these are the 3 I know of.