SOMBRA Y LUZ

Triana is the most legendary progressive rockband in Spain. Their stunning debut-album was a seminal blend of flamenco and progrock and paved the way to flamenco-inspired progrock in Spain, culminating in bands like Azahar, Cai, Alameda, Quadalquivir, Mezquita and Medina Azahara. The story of Triana started in Seville, the beating heart of the flamenco. Jesus de la Rosa (keyboards/vocals) was a known musician in the local music scene and he even had international success with "Los Bravos" and their single Black Is Black. But he wanted to form his own band to make progressive rock, so he recruited Eduardo Rodriquez Rodway (vocals/guitar) and Juan Jose Palacios 'Tele' (drums/percussion). The trio called themselves Triana, named after the most traditional part of the town and they moved to Madrid. With some help they were allowed to record their music in a studio with highly advanced equipment. In '74 Triana first released a single titled Bulerias 5x8 (it became a failure) and then the debut album El Patio ('75). Unfortunately their flamenco-progrock did little, eventually the album sold 1000 copies. But after a big presentation in Madrid in '76, things started to improve and in '77 the second album Hijos Del Agobio came out, followed by the single Rumor. The emotional lyrics (about hope after the end of general Franco's dictatorship) were embraced by the Spanish youth when the radio started to play Rumor. Triana's music boosted the youth's identity and it gave them a way to show their emotions. And how ironically, Triana's music became less progressive while the band became more and more famous. This third album entitled Sombra Y Luz, released in 1979, turned out to be a bit of a disappointment for me because I was so delighted about Hijos Del Agobio and especially El Patio, in my opinion the absolute highlight of the Prog Andaluz movement. Listening to Sombra Y Luz I am less carried away, some songs even tend to sound a bit boring, despite the invitation of a lot of guest musicians like Pepe Roca, Enrique Camona and Antonio Perez on electric guitar and Manolo Rosa on bass (also to be seen on the 2-CD/1-DVD Se De Un Lugar, highly recommended). There is still some magic, then you can enjoy the very distinctive and compelling experience of the Prog Andaluz like in the titletrack. But in fact you can compare this album to And Then There Were Three by Genesis: their last progrock minded effort and then "goodbey to prog and hello to commercial success" and for sure Triana got commercial succes in the following years with their polished blend of rock, pop, and some prog and flamenco!

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