OTSOA DANTZAN

''Izukaitz'' did not have a great success regarding its sales and even according to the band's members they maybe hurried a bit to publish their first work.During the summer of 79' Izukaitz played in a number of music festivals around the Basque country and in September 79' they started working on their second album with a refreshed line-up.Bassist Jesus Mari Aranburu and guitarist Bixente Martinez surrounded the remaining trio of Kruzeta, Lasuen and Aurelio Martinez and in 1980 the second effort ''Otsoa dantzan'' saw the light, again on the Xoxoa label.

This sophomore work of Izukaitz follows a more progressive mold, even if the style of the band remains largely acoustic with strong Basque Folk influences and limited rockin' content.However the album contains plenty of interesting interplays between acoustic guitars, flutes and violins, creating rich, traditional soundscapes, as most of the tracks appear to be reworkings of old Basque songs.The few moments with the presence of electric guitars appear to have an evident psychedelic and outdated sound, which still sounds interesting next to the heavy display of acoustic interplays.Some of the tracks retain the intense, poetic nature of the band's debut, based on ethereal female and more lyrical male voices, which is pretty good in my books.There are obvious attempts by the band to deliver a more diverse and intricate approach at moments: Light piano lines, slight symphonic influences, scarce sax melodies and more stretched instrumental ideas are offered in the album.However ''Otsoa dantzan'' is heavily grounded in the Basque Folk tradition and its progressive content relies mostly on the excellent interplays between the instrumentalists.

By the time the interest of the audience for Folk Rock and the lack of appropriate fields for live appearances seem to have affected the group's future, even if the new album was warmly received by the press.Izukaitz continued their way into more electric explorations, adding even some jazzy lines in their sound, but their supposedly third work was reputedly recorded but never released.Internal tensions between the members eventually led to the disbanding of the group in 1981.

Decent Folk Rock with lovely interplays and expressive vocals.More balanced than their rather lyrical debut and a recommended work, especially for fans of more traditional listenings.