Post Description

Studio Album, released in 2005, Peru.

Debuut album van deze Peruvaanse Prog Folk formatie.


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. 

This is unique progressive rock from Peru, it sounds as a pleasant combination of ethnic music (mainly flutes) and rock music (electric guitar), sometimes with echoes from Los Jaivas but without keyboards and harder-edged. The rhythm-section plays fluent and adventurous, the interplay between the flutes (pan - and traverse flute) and the guitar is strong. The compositions deliver lots of shifting moods and some splendid build-ups. My only negative remark concerns the atmospheres in the songs, these are often similar because the emphasis is, in my opinion, a bit too much on the flutes and guitar. But the electric guitar work is great, from sensitive and bluesy to fiery and heavy, the influences range from Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton to Jimmy Page and Carlos Santana. A wonderful album, way ahead from the mainstream progrock. If Flor De Loto matures in writing (and I beg for the addition of keyboards!), this band will succeed to generate my attention for the whole album. 

Review: Erik Neuteboom.



Songs / Tracks Listing

1. La Llegada (7:20)
2. Libélula (7:22)
3. Negativos de una Memoria Inexistente (6:15)
4. Ayahuaska (4:10)
5. El Errante (9:02)
6. El Niño y el Puerco (7:36)
7. Y (1:55)
8. Ritual (6:28)
9. Flor de Loto (2:53)
10. Suculentas Frutas (9:35)

Total Time: 62:36

Line-up / Musicians

- Alonso Herrera / electric and acoustic guitars
- Alejandro Jarrin / bass
- Jorge Puccini / drums, percussion
- Johnny Perez / flute, recorder, zampoña*, midi sequencer

Additional musicians:
- Rafael Valderrama / flute, recorder
- Octavio Castillo / mandolin (4)
- Lalo Williams / synthesizer (8)