Mosa¿¿que in Bloomington, MN

A regular point of grievance about
Cast
's albums is their duration. However,
Mosaique
is worth almost every minute you spend with it. Finally, here is a
opus that doesn't feel like it could have been scaled down for better effect. Is
's case different because it brings back together the new and old versions of the band? No, nostalgia has nothing to do with the quality of this album, even though the basic tracks of some of the songs have been salvaged from mid-'90s recording sessions. In fact, the lineup introduced on
Al-Bandaluz
is in most regards better than the original. Simply put, all but two of the songs on
are worth making the cut.
"Azteca Imperial"
kicks things off in typical
fashion: i.e., with a blistering instrumental opus.
"Signs of Love"
was recorded in part during the
Endless Signs
sessions, but completed only in 2005, like three other tracks on the album. It stands as one of the band's strong pieces, along with
"Suenos Colectivos,"
"Hay un Lugar,"
and
"Zona de Ilusiones,"
all outstanding compositions that epitomize
's brand of
Latin
neo-progressive rock
. The
smooth jazz
number
"Cuerda Floja"
and the rather trite
ballad
"Adapted to Your Eyes,"
both older tracks, are the only subpar offerings.
Alfonso Vidales
' songwriting is more concise, precise, and to the point, with instrumental developments being more purposeful and captivating.
is a late achievement for this Mexican group, and its best album since
Angels & Demons
. ~ Francois Couture