Los Mac's
Kaleidoscope Men
Los Mac's were formed in 1962 in Playa Ancha, initially as a cover band. In 1965 they moved to Santiago, with their experience on their backs, and with their own songs they attracted the interest of RCA, who quickly signed them. In their career the band would record 6 albums, 4 in their heyday in the '60s, and 2 more after their reunion in 2010. 'Kaleidoscope Men' is the most important and successful of this Valparaiso quartet, and was produced at RCA by Carlos Gonzalez. 'Kaleidoscope Men' is a psychedelic album clearly influenced by the Beatles' 'Sgt Pepper's,' and by the groups of the then called Californian sunshine pop. A mature album, with excellent vocal and instrumental arrangements that flies from the confines of the world to a universal sound with fluidity and elegance. The elegant 'Degrees' shines with its own light, psychedelia with vocal touches of great bands of the '60s like The Turtles, The Association or the incomparable Byrds. 'El Evangelio De La Gente Sola' is a progressive instrumental cut with the peculiar sound of a church organ, while 'Dear Friend Bob' uses the technique that George Martin used with the Beatles in their most experimental stage of using the tapes in the opposite direction, with which the sound of the instruments "upside down" gives the special touch popularized by the 4 from Liverpool but used assiduously by bands of the time. The acid baroque of 'A Través Del Cristal' is close to 'Strawberry Fields Forever,' while 'La Muerte De Mi Hermano' enters the anti-war current of the Vietnam War era; a poignant song structurally supported by the Byrds' guitar sound. Originally released in 1967, 'Kaleidoscope Men' is the penultimate and most respected album by the Mac's, who would record their last album in 1968 and then move to the United States. A jewel to rediscover through this careful release that honors the original with an excellent remastering and artwork.