HIJOS DEL AGOBIO

In the late 70s I visited the house of the #1 Dutch proghead Peter van der Laan. After I had told him about my passion for flamenco he showed me the first three albums from Spanish formation Triana that he has ordered directly from the band. During my first listening session I was blown away, I had never heard this unique blend of prog and flamenco, what a discovery! Now to the early 90s, when I had contacted #1 Spanish proghead Angel Romero, via an add in the Spanish prog magazine Sirius. Due to his increasing dust allergy he had to get rid off his extensive prog vinyl collection. I asked him "Do you have music like Triana?", I will never forget his answer, "Yes, of course, we name it Rock Andaluz", that was the start for my Rock Andaluz quest. Angel send me LP's from Cai, Azahar and Medina Azahara, I was in Rock Andaluz Heaven! A few years later I discovered Greg Walker his Syn-Phonic and Ken Golden his Laser's Edge (both Holy Grail mailorder services for progheads) and noticed a lot of Rock Andaluz bands, I bought CD reissues from Mezquita, Iman, Gualdalquivir and Vega, wow. And a few years ago I searched for Rock Andaluz on Google and stumbled on the awesome Spanish prog label 5Lunas, the owner Juan Antonio Vergara is very determined to release early and new Rock Andaluz (and also Spanish prog). So I purchased interesting new Rock Andaluz bands Qamar, Sherish, Anairt and Randy Lopez, and early Rock Andaluz bands Montoro and Mantra, awesome. Now back to Triana, my first Rock Andaluz love.

In comparison with their debut El Patio (1975) this successor entitled Hijos Del Agobio (1977) sounds a bit less elaborate, and no 6+ minute compositions, all 8 songs are between 3 and 6 minutes. Nonetheless it is wonderful and varied Rock Andaluz. Most tracks deliver slow beats and compelling atmospheres featuring strong Spanish vocals (with that typcial melancholical flamenco undertone), howling electric guitar runs, lush vintage keyboards and a dynamic rhythm-section. But also some fluent mid-tempo beats with powerful vocals and intense electric guitar. And even an experimental composition with propulsive percussion and spacey Moog synthesizer drops. The most fascinating moments are the blend of symphonic rock and the flamenco guitar, less omnipresent than on El Patio but still a huge bonus, a thrilling prog experience.

For me bands like Triana, Mezquita, Medina Azahara and Alameda are not symphonic rock, Neo-Prog, jazzrock or folk rock, these bands are Rock Andaluz, due to the very distinctive Spanish vocals and the flamenco elements, blended in an unique way with progressive rock. A big hand for Triana that paved the way for the development of the exciting world of the Rock Andaluz, check out 5Lunas and discover how still alive Rock Andaluz is, 50 years after El Patio!

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