Supay

As always, welcome back fellow progheads!  The dog days are almost behind us, which means autumn is beginning to awaken from her slumber.  School is just about back in session, and what better way is there to ring in the educational new year than with a field trip searching for all things prog?  So get ready and climb aboard the Concert Closet for a seven day adventure to Peru as we bask in the prog fusion sounds of Supay.

Supay is self-described as "...a prog-fusion rock band."  Simple enough, but how to define the "fusion" thing?  Many a band uses that moniker deflect attention from their inability to put a real sound together.  As we disembark the Concert Closet let us delve deeper into this "prog-fusion" thing and decide for ourselves...

The first offering from the buffet this week is an intricate slice of music called "Alma."  The opening conjures the vision of a smoke filled amphitheater as strong guitar work fills the air, strutting about like a peacock in full plumage.  Not to be outdone, the drums roll in steadily and take the mood on a bit of a slow-down ride.  Suddenly your auditory senses are hit with some marvelous woodwinds and keyboards.  Supay brings a complete ensemble to the buffet; quite refreshing.  Looks like the lights will be dim for several days...

Strolling back to the buffet for a second helping, I am lured to one of the most captivating pieces I have heard in a while; a song called "Senales."  The ocean tide opening is like a siren song mesmerizing you with a pan flute that bores deep into your inner being.  When the guitars, keyboards, and percussion move in you just know the next nine minutes are going to be special. Supay has an arsenal of  weapons at their disposal and they seem very much willing and able to use them at any given moment.  I pick up strong top notes of Transatlantic and Spock's Beard in this tune...a cloud of  tranquil chaos hangs over the entire arrangement like so many streamers at a college reunion.  You feel yourself getting caught in the mood yet able to realize there is something special dancing across your ears right now...

Liner Notes...Supay pitches their main tent in Lima, Peru and is presently comprised of Giomar Camino on classic, native, and Andean woodwinds, Luis Proano on guitar, Luis Medina on bass, Alberto Benites behind the drum kit, and Gustavo Valverde on keyboards and virtual instruments. Officially started in 2000 as a trio, Supay has gone through the proverbial growing pains and learning curves that occur in the life of a band.  Over the ensuing fifteen years Supay has released three albums, each taking an off-shoot from the previous, exploring soundscapes, imagery, and emotion. Supay does in fact dig deep--just as their name implies.  Supay is a Quechua word referring to a figure from Inca mythology symbolizing the duality that governs nature.  Yes, the prog mind runs deep...very deep...and deeper still....

Serving number three for review this week is haunting, tribal-like cut called "La Nueva."  A peaceful flute opening leads the listener down a serene path to what feels like the first rays of morning sun cutting through a dense fog.  The drums carry the weight of the guitars quite nicely.  I get a "Stanley Clarke meets Al Di Meola" vibe from this piece.  Supay serves up yet another nine minutes of bustling calm...so much happening in such a smooth manner...

I chose this week's musical interlude in an attempt to give some insight into the world that is Supay. The comforting flute once again takes the lead, painting a calming picture akin to the looking glass stillness of a lake.  But just as you settle in with that snifter of brandy, along comes a flock of geese to break the serenity--the mood and tempo move that quickly.  Supay seems to enjoy playing with your senses, so you may as well take it all in while getting to know them better.  There are two Facebook pages related to the band, https://www.facebook.com/SupayProgRock and   https://www.facebook.com/supay.rock?_rdr=p. You can also follow Supay on Twitter
@Supay_progrock.  While you're at each internet stop, check out the artwork...

Supay cuts a wide swath through the prog garden, traipsing through much of the vintage section while not neglecting the eclectic, theatrical, and jazz-fusion sections.  Take the sounds of Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd, early Genesis, Vanilla Fudge, add a dash of Spirit, and a shot of Atomic Rooster, and the depth of Supay is within your grasp.  Seven days in Peru winds down as the search for all things prog continues...until next week...