Fernando Perdomo: "Waves 6" (2025) CD Review

Fernando Perdomo's impressive 2025 project, Waves, continues with its sixth volume. As with previous entries in the series, Waves 6 contains all original material, composed and performed by Fernando Perdomo. Yup, he not only wrote all the tracks, but plays all the instruments on them. This one has some rather playfully titled songs, including "Bob Dyan's 115th Tweet" and "Lick My Pumps Luv." But that isn't to say that the music doesn't take us on some wonderful and unusual journeys, for it certainly does, especially tracks like "Heavenly Rainbow" and "Oscillations."

The album cover photo, taken by Joe Galdo, shows a rainbow over the ocean, and the album opens with "Heavenly Rainbow," which has a soothing vibe. I love how this album opens with a reminder of the beauty of the world, something we need especially these days. Take a break from the chaos, from the ugliness of human folly and bigotry, the music seems to suggest, and use the moment to appreciate the world. A rainbow is something that lasts only a very short time, and the same goes for all of us, so in appreciating a fleeting beauty above us, we can also acknowledge a similar thing within ourselves. And both the rainbow and we ourselves are part of the larger picture, which also is felt in this music. The tone then changes with "Magic Alex," which grabs us with its forceful opening moment, and with its beat. This one has a stronger rock vibe, and features hypnotic elements within the guitar work, the guitar line almost like a strange, dark mantra at times.

The music dips into stranger territory with "Oscillations," with its delightful electronic, ghostly sounds, like some alien form inviting us into its home, engaging us in conversation, in dance. The electric guitar offers a response, joins in that dance, even taking over. Soon a dark wind sweeps across us, across the landscape, and the guitar faces the onslaught. It seems the guitar will prevail, but suddenly the instrument drops out, and the track ends. This is one of my personal favorites. It is followed by "Bob Dylan's 115th Tweet," one of the songs to sport a playful title, riffing on "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream," from Dylan's great Bringing It All Back Home album. Does Bob Dylan have a Twitter account? I don't know. I stopped using that site after it was purchased by a twisted Nazi. But now I'm curious what Bob Dylan's 115th post on that site might be (though not curious enough to return to the site). Anyway, this is a fun track, with something of a raw southern rock vibe and a dose of blues, featuring some excellent guitar work. It feels like a great jam, though the music is performed by one person. It is a track that ought to get you moving. By the way, the CD case lists "Bob Dylan's 115th Tweet" as coming after "The Deep," when actually it comes before it. As for "The Deep," there is something soothing to this track, particularly in that call and response, the music responding to itself, like whales engaged in a duet. It makes us feel like we might be able to communicate with other creatures of this world. Wouldn't that be something? To be an active part of nature rather than the thing that brings about its destruction.

I thought "Theme From The Unpopular Prog Show" was another playful title, until I realized that there actually is a podcast titled "The Unpopular Prog Show." Fernando Perdomo was a guest on the show, and then composed this theme. This track is like a wild progressive rock carnival ride, delivered with an intensity that causes us to get swept up in its motion. "Mustangs In The Wild" is another progressive rock number to have a strength and intensity, though quite a different mood from the previous track. Even if it is a somewhat slower number, there is an excitement to its progress, to its movement, and a full sound that is overwhelming at moments. That's followed by "Utopians," which is an interesting track, especially once it gets into the main body, the way the guitar soars above that repeated theme. That theme feels like a march of workers, and the guitar flies overhead, escaping the drudgery, the repeated motion. Then it becomes a bubbling cauldron, the guitar perhaps a sorcerer determining the ingredients to be added, willing the magic into being.

I love the opening to "Variations On A Dream," the way it builds. It reminds me of some of the music I listened to growing up in the 1970s and early 1980s. The rhythm here plays a prominent role, and the guitar acts like several voices, playing on a theme, seeing where it can be taken, building on it, then letting it to, then building again. This is wonderful. The album then concludes with "Lick My Pumps Luv." Though this track has an amusing title, the music is actually rather somber and moving. It is a slow, introspective number that features some beautifully expressive guitar work, and ends up being another of my favorites. At some point, there is a subtle switch, and the music seems to look outward more than inward, reaching out to us and connecting with us. I absolutely love the guitar work on this track, but there is also some good stuff on keys and bass.

CD Track List

1. Heavenly Rainbow
2. Magic Alex
3. Oscillations
4. Bob Dylan's 115th Tweet
5. The Deep
6. Theme From The Unpopular Prog Show
7. Mustangs In The Wild
8. Utopians
9. Variations On A Dream
10. Lick My Pumps Luv

Waves 6 was released on June 1, 2025.