The music on Alas' Pinta tu Aldea focuses less on melodies and more on the structure

Pinta tu Aldea (Paint Your village) is an entirely instrumental prog album. That said, the prog label is, probably, slightly too limiting here.

The opening of the title track, for example, has more to do with the Canterbury sound or RIO than prog. It's only later in the track that the more classic prog elements begin to emerge. But even then, they rarely stay for long.

And that tells you something about this album. Pinta tu Aldea is basically about change. In their music, Alas focus less on melodies and more on the structure. Themes shift often, songs turn from one movement to another, often abruptly.

As a result, not much in their compositions will stay with you. This music works best when it is admired in the now, but there isn't much, like captivating melodies or passages, to remember later.

This isn't an objection against this record. This is how Alas play. And they do it wonderfully well. If you enjoy a more technical approach to prog, you will enjoy their music. Guaranteed.

I know I have.

Quick note: This album was recorded in 1977, originally released five years later, after the band had already broken up. This here, however, is a new release based on a 2024 remaster.