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El jardín de los presentes 1976
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El jardín de los presentes

When Luis Alberto Spinetta expanded Invisible to a quartet in 1976, incorporating Tomás Gubitsch alongside Machi Rufino and Pomo Lorenzo, the result was El jardín de los presentes. This album, the band's third and final in that lineup, marked a sonic shift with influences that leaned towards tango, and was released in mid-1976, presenting its sound in a massive concert on August 6th at the Luna Park Stadium. The work, which includes eight tracks, seven sung and one instrumental titled Alarma entre los ángeles, is seen as a high point in Spinetta's career and a key piece of Argentine rock. The title itself, an idea from Eduardo "Dylan" Martí, a photographer close to Spinetta, evokes a particular atmosphere that is reflected in the compositions.

Year
1976
Songs
8
Duration
38 min 32 seg
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About the album

El jardín de los presentes, according to DoReSol

One of the album's central pieces is undoubtedly El anillo del Capitán Beto. The song begins with a distinctive guitar chord and a bass line that create immediate tension, introducing the story of a Buenos Aires bus driver who transforms into a space explorer. The lyrics, inspired by Spinetta's readings of Jean Paul Sartre, narrate intergalactic adventures but also feelings of loneliness. This song has been recognized in polls, appearing among the best of Argentine rock according to Rolling Stone and rock.com.ar. Curiously, the figure of "Capitán Beto" generated a popular association with Norberto "Beto" Alonso, a River Plate footballer from the 70s, even though Spinetta explicitly denied that connection, although the lyrics contain nods like the mention of a club pennant.

Another standout track is Los libros de la buena memoria, also highlighted among the musician's most significant compositions. The album, which in its original vinyl edition credited the entire lineup, including Gubitsch, became a benchmark. In 2009, Perdonado (niño condenado), another single from the album, was chosen by Spinetta to be performed at the historic concert "Spinetta y las Bandas Eternas," a retrospective of his entire career.