Supay | ru

Like many other progressive bands from South America (old or current), SUPAY, an instrumental act from Peru, aimed from the very beginning at the forge of an artistically driven rock input enriched by the incorporation of abundant colours and nuances from Andean folk, in order to state and reaffirm a particular identity within the confines of symphonic prog. Guitarist Luis Proaño founded SUPAY in late 2000, together with drummer Neto Pérez and bassist Juan Roldán - former partners in previous bands - as a power trio. The band took their name from the Inca equivalent to Hades, the Greek God of the Underworld [later on, to the Devil in the Christian religion, as well]. Soon after the band's debut on stage, woodwind player Williams León entered the ranks in order to help SUPAY to properly enhance their Andean facet with a supply of traditional woodwinds. It wasn't until July 2003 that the band could take their repertoire to a recording studio; at the time, the band had been augmented as a sextet with the entry of keyboardist Gustavo Valverde and a second woodwind player, Alex Valenzuela, while newcomer Renzo Danuser was in charge of the bassist's role.

Eventually, their debut album "Confusión" was released the following year, an album full of magic and captivating beauty. While not really becoming a commercial success, it caught the attention of some music critics, as well as a small cult following in the 'underground' rock scene of Lima.

In 2006, Chilean label Mylodon records re-released "Confusión" with a remastered sound production. This gave Supay the opportunity to be known by prog fans worldwide, given the association of Mylodon with Musea. During that same year, under an irregular schedule and facing inconsistencies in its line-up, Supay managed to record new material. This material (now as a quintet after the departure of one windwood player) was partially released in the EP "El Viaje" in March 2007, and two months later, released completely in the namesake long-duration CD. This first edition, as it had happened for the band's debut album, is an independent local edition.

A long-duration CD equally titled "El Viaje" was released two months later. Both the EP and this sophomore album had been recorded in intermittent sessions all through 2006 and early 2007. Only one woodwind player remained from the line-up that had recorded "Confusión"; the original keyboardist left after the ultimate session; there were two people alternating the bassist's role, since Danuser was by then about to move to Switzerland to pursue personal life's projects. Despite the inconsistency of the recording line-up, the album turned out to be musically powerful and compositionally inspired.

Particularly recommended to fans of JETHRO TULL, LOS JAIVAS, CAMEL, as well as lovers of 73-75 PINK FLOYD and 76-78 GENESIS. Generally speaking, SUPAY's music feels quite suitable for lovers of art-rock with strong folk and fusion tendencies.


Why this artist must be listed in www.progarchives.com :
Their record "Confusion" is a beautiful work full of inventiveness in its mixture of symphonic prog and Andean folk colours.

Discography:
Confusion (2004)
Senales (2014) .