FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES.
Tarkus, the heaviest of all hard rock/progressive bands from Peru was formed in 1971. The members were the Peruvians Alex Nathanson and Walo Carillo and, the Argentina born, Dario Gianella and Guillermo Van Locke. It was Guillermo Van Lacke, the group's bass player, who approached two members of Telegraph Avenue: Alex Nathanson, singer and acoustic guitar, and Walo Carrillo, drums and percussion. Both musicians have just finished recording Telegraph' s first lp, an album that was going to became the best seller of all lps by Peruvian rock groups in the 70's.
Nathanson and Carillo decided to temporarily leave Telegraph to join Van Lacke and explore new musical ideas on the direction of mixing hard rock with progressive. The new group was baptized Tarkus, after a mythologicalTarkus, the heaviest of all hard rock/progressive bands from Peru, was being that lives deep inside everybody's soul and has the function to protect the individual's morality against the external world.
The trio was pretty successful in concerts but the melodic element was missing. Finally arrived in the persona of Dario Ginella, an Argentinean guitar player, friend of Van Lacke, avid fan of Led Zeppelin, and who was, like Guillermo, a prolific composer. After months playing together, the band signed a contract with MAG, a Peruvian label, to record an album (LPN-2423). Tarkus was recorded from April 3rd. to May 16th., 1972. The studio gave the group total freedom to record their music the way they wanted it. The recording, under the technical direction of Carlos Guerrero, was done with love and dedication.
Fifty copies were made, all of them test pressings with the standard MAG label, to be giving as promotional material, and a few copies that were sold in stores. The LP had it all, heavy rock, excellent compositions, good musicianship and futuristic vision, but it was too advanced for Peruvian rock fans. In USA it could have sold thousands of copies, but in Peru, the label decided not to released because of the low demand, making it the most sought after album from South America. The insert, containing the lyrics of all songs, was never included with the promo copies. Even today this recording sound fresh and contemporary, it has the makings of a true classic.
Tarkus had a few live presentations, the most famous being the one at La Plaza de Acho, together with Pax, El Ayllu, El Polen, Kabul, etc...At the end of 1972 the members of the group decided to follow their own paths in life. Alex Nathanson and Walo Carillo continued with Telegraph Avenue and went to record a second LP (Telegraph is still active giving concerts in Lima, Peru), Guillermo Van Lacke returned to Argentina where he is a successful music producer, and Dario Gianella travelled to settle in Miami, Florida, where he does studio work.
credits
released February 29, 2016
Alex Nathanson: vocals, chorus
Darío Gianella: guitars
Guillermo Van Lacke: bass
Walo Carrillo: drums
On "Cambiemos ya" - Alex Nathanson in acoustic guitar.
On "Tiempo en el sol" - Dario Gianella on vocals, acoustic guitar.
On "Tiempo en el sol" - Melissa Griffith on chorus.
Recorded at MAG Studios, in Lima Peru between April 3th to May 16th, 1972.
This release was authorised and agreed with artist(s) and/or first degree relatives of them.
We are an independent record label, based in Athens Greece, founded by Michalis Matthaiou, operated by him, his wife Maria
Sofia Andrikou and a few good friends.
The label issues and reissues, new bands, old collectible records, always in colored vinyl and in low number of copies (300-500), maintaining the collectible aspect.
For every record, a special edition of 50 numbered copies is also made...more
supported by 5 fans who also own “Tarkus-Tarkus (1972 Peru)”
This is some great music for a morose, rainy day. Lush, sedate, bluesy, and with a certain apocalyptic flair, most evident on White Horses, which sounds very much like a psychedelic blues dirge.
I appreciate that the songs sometimes lose themselves along the way, giving way to some beautiful psych explorations. I also enjoy the vocals on this - they sometimes waver, but they fit the music so well. Smekermann
supported by 5 fans who also own “Tarkus-Tarkus (1972 Peru)”
I was on a train travelling to Seefeld in Austria and had nothing but the Alps to look over from the windows. This was a perfect compliment to the environment I was in Robert A Johnson
There’s a quiet beauty to this remix album of compositions by Michael Vincent Waller, with contributions from JLin, Prefuse 73, & more. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 1, 2024
supported by 5 fans who also own “Tarkus-Tarkus (1972 Peru)”
very clever indeed.
Who would have thought of something as groovy as this?
Truly a wonder of nature it is.
Steinsopp, bring it on please.
Yes, right here is, where it is. dumm:kopfinn