Flor de Loto

FLOR DE LOTO is currently the most prominent prog rock new group in Peru: in only a few months' time they turned from promise-status to major act while growing a cult following in Lima. This instrumental quartet was founded by guitarist Alonso Herrera and bassist Alejandro Jarrín with a guitar/bass/keyboard/drums format, back in 1998. A couple of years later, new drummer Jorge Puccini entered the band and helped it to develop its initial prog leanings further, a process that was effectively continued when flautist Rafael Valderrama also entered the band not too long after the keyboardist's departure. The recording process of their eponymous debut album lasted more than six months: things seemed to get really difficult as Valderrama left when the recording sessions were not yet finished, but new flautist Johnny Pérez (a charismatic veteran musician) came in and helped the band to keep on going. Released in January 2005, "Flor de Loto" stands out as one of the best Latin American prog albums of the year.
FLOR DE LOTO's prog style is based on a solid confluence of various sources: jazz, hard rock, psych-rock, Andean folk, chamber. The final result is somewhat similar to classic JETHRO TULL in places, but all in all, the typical South American ethnic flavors are heavily featured in a unique way. While keeping itself busy on stage presentations, the band started to create new material, oriented toward jazz fusion, clearly under Pérez's refurbishing influence. The eventual result was the sophomore release "Madre Tierra" (May 2007), which according to many, surpasses the debut album regarding compositional focus and arrangements. In the meantime, FLOR DE LOTO had international exposure in Brazil's Art Rock Rio and Mexico's Baja Prog festivals. Just when the new album was catching teh attention of domestic and international audiences, Pérez parted ways with the other band members in September. The woodwind department is crucial for the band's sound, so it was pretty urgent that they find a proper replacement: luckily, it didn't take long before the band contacted young virtuoso Junior Pacora, who immediately agreed to join. In August 2008, FDL is part of Crescendo 2008, a prestigious annual prog festival in France. The recording debut for the new line-up was "Mundos Bizarros", released in May 2009. The band keeps expanding and refining its core sound by emphasizing its rocking power on one hand, and augmenting its folkish elements on the other. This third studio effort is indeed a pinnacle in the history of Peru's art-rock.
This band never ceases to renew its line-up, and so it came to be that drummer Puccini left in early 2011 to be replaced by Carlos Llontop. Also, guitarist Ignacio Flórez, who started as an occasional supporting guitarist, has been gradually becoming more involved in the band's sound, whose rock aspect has gained a metal-oriented punch, while retaining the fusion element and exploring its potential continuously. Ultimately, Flórez became a full-time member, hence the band becoming a permanent quintet. Studio effort no. 4 "Imperio De Cristal" was recorded and produced in an Argentinean studio and oficially released in August 2011, in a joint effort by Mylodon, Musea and local label Sonidos Latentes.
Highly recomended to fans of JETHRO TULL, jazz-fusion, hard prog rock, Latin American folk-rock.
: : : César Inca Mendoza Loyola, Lima (PERU) : : :
http://www.fdlprogre.com/index.htm