Concentric worlds in fragmented reflections
Besides being the stunningly mature and elaborate work of a young prodigy, Music of Youth by The Melchiades Estrada Band constitutes also a historical point of reference for digitally composed music, since the medium used for the creation of these tracks (Protracker on an Amiga) is now obsolete. But the artistic value of this work is undeniable as well, demonstrating the composer's absolute mastery of his material and means.
There is a kind of abstract beauty in the impeccable organisation and architecture of the melodies, perturbed here and there by almost imperceptible manoeuvres, swift bursts of energy that create concentric circles on the illusively reassuring order of the surface. It's a magical puzzle completed piece by piece - a spiral wrapped around itself, while at the same time unfolding right ahead and transmuting itself into fluctuating shapes, returning echoes in fragments of melody, multiple reflections of light in the pieces of a broken mirror.
The titles of the tracks tell stories of their own, others mysterious and intriguing like The Eclipse, Jesus & Co, Marilyn, O.N.S. or Exodia, and others, like the Level and Symbiose series, making potential allusions to the universe of a futuristic video game. The joyful animosity of Energia reopens the circle of the afterglow mellowness in Orgasmopolis (which brings to mind an audacious amalgam of Fritz Lang's Metropolis and Fellini's City of Women) and the volatile, almost sarcastic moodiness of Rest in Peace, while the exquisite atmospheric melody of Seaphony complements the brilliant word blend in the title of the ending track.
One of the richest and most original albums I ever had the chance to listen to.
NOTE: Being the artist's technical admin on Jamendo at the time this album was published, I was unfortunately not allowed to post this review on that site. But I had the honour and pleasure to create the album cover and assist to the upload and publication of this wonderful work.
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