Neo-Prog
El Salvador
OVNI is a progressive rock band from El Salvador. OVNI's beginnings go all the way back to 1978, when the original members came together under the band name KARN and began playing music in an English Beat style. In 1982, the band changed its name to OVNI and began playing progressive rock. At this point the band consisted of Rafael Alfaro on guitar and vocals; Kristian Calderon on guitar; Mauricio Alfaro on Drums; Ajax Calderon on bass; and, Mauritius Parades on keyboards. The band started off singing in English. The band began playing concerts and releasing singles, some of which garnered the band some local radio play, but the band's first album would not come for another 8 years.
In 1986, Rafael Alfaro went abroad to study sound engineering, effectively putting an end to the band OVNI. The three members remaining at the time stayed together and went under the name ARC. Rafael returned the following year and OVNI was reformed, with the lineup of Rafael Alfaro on guitar and vocals, Kristian Calderon on bass, Maricio Alfaro on keyboards and Robert Monk on drums. At this point, the band, who had previously sung all of their lyrics in English, began singing in Spanish. Over the next couple of years the band played live and also recorded several songs. Prior to the release of their first cassette, Robert Monk left the band and Maricio resumed drumming duties, along with playing the keyboards.
The band began releasing cassettes in the early 1990's, with "En El Reino De La Rosa/Tus Signos" in 1990, the concept album "Palabras" in 1991, and "Arcoiris" in 1993. Kristian Calderon left the band after the release of "Arcoiris" and was replaced by Gabriel Catena. The band then released the album "En Algún Reino" in 1995, the band's first CD, which was a compilation of previously recorded songs. Following the release of the CD, the members decided to pursue separate interests and the band broke up. But in 1998, Rafael Alfaro and Kristian Calderon reunited, and bringing Mauricio Alfaro back into the fold, OVNI was reborn.
The band released a single in late 1999 which gained quite a bit of popularity on local radio. In 2000, the band released a double CD "Entre Seres Y Sus Raíces". The first CD included all new music, while the second CD included songs which had previously been played live but had never been recorded. The live album "La Experiencia" followed in 2001. In 2004, the band released the concept album "Humanos Pero No terrestres/ Humans But Not Terrestrials". For this album, the band began singing in both English and Spanish. This trend continued on their 2006 release "Los Verdaderos Propósitos De Dios/The True Purposes Of God". For this release, Rafael Alfaro surrounded himself with a new group of musicians under the OVNI banner, including Javier Gómez on bass, Jorge Lara on keyboards and Juan Chavarría on drums, as well as several guest musicians. Rafael, Javier, Juan and Jorge remain the current lineup of the band today.
ALBUMS:
2004 - HUMANOS PERO NO TERRESTRES/HUMANSBUT NOT TERRESTRIALS
Musicians
Mauricio Alfaro - Drums, keyboards, percussion
Kristian Calderón - bass
Rafael Alfaro - Guitar, flute, harmonica, percussion, vocals
1. The Visitors (18:16)
2. Un Trato (4:40)
3. It Is Just Me (12:26)
4. Cuando Esta Cerca (4:58)
5. Remembering (4:04)
6. Hybridizacion (3:52)
7. El Meastro (4:15)
8. Lo Agridulce De Los Terrestres (22:54)
9. The Time When We Were Free (4:04)
Look!!
