CAMINO DEL AGUILA

3.5 stars. While I have some stone cold favourites from Spain I will admit that I am not into that flamenco style at all. So that affects my enjoyment of a lot of bands from this great country. IMAN CALIFATO INDEPENDIENTE is a four piece band that play a symphonic/jazz style. Like their debut this is all instrumental pretty much save for the final track. And there's a big change after that 1978 debut as the bass player/vocalist leaves. Funny though that this significant change really has little influence on the sound of album number two, as this new musician plays bass and sings in a similar manner as the previous guy.

So a lot of synth led music here, with guitar leading the way often. But the bass and drums really drive this thing. I understand they were known as simply IMAN to a lot of the fans, and this word is highlighted on the album cover here. They sort of followed the blue print of their debut with four tracks and leaving the vocal song until last. Should have stuck it in the middle in my opinion as I feel the vocal tracks on both records are the weak links. This record is also quite shorter than the debut clocking in at just over 34 minutes.

My favourite track here is the opener. I like the melancholic synths that they use often, plus this song just seems to work no matter if it's the mellow and trippy bits, or the sections they let their hair down and play. Some nice contrasts on that 10 1/2 minute opener. I like the electric piano on track two as well as the guitar solo on track three which shows how talented this guitarist is, as this is fast and fluid. Not big on the vocal led closer though.

This band has a lot of fans and for good reason. I find this second album to be the best of the two simply because it's more consistent. No it doesn't reach the highs or the lows of the debut.

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to Mellotron Storm
• Report this review (#3202265)
• Buy IMÁN CALIFATO INDEPENDIENTE music online with PA partners
• Show all IMÁN CALIFATO INDEPENDIENTE MP3/Stream
• Go to IMÁN CALIFATO INDEPENDIENTE page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Camino del Aguila page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for IMÁN CALIFATO INDEPENDIENTE related discussions