IZUKAITZ

This group is among the few Basque groups that found artistic freedom with the end of Franco's regime, and managed to express themselves in their own culture (no-one is really sure where the Basque's language came from, but it is like no other European language) and clearly took advantage of their newfound freedom. Along with Haizea, Itoiz, Itziar and Errobi, Izukaitz is part of the essential poker hand of folk groups (all five being (or will be) in the archives under prog folk for obvious reasons) that blossomed in the late 70's and enchanted most folkies in those rather hard times - by now most folk purists had accepted the rock elements in their music.

Their very naive artwork depicting their acoustic (except for the bass and the odd bit of guitars) sprouting from the ground depicts the music fairly accurately, enhanced even further by the relative absence of percussions and the Basque lyrics. A lot of these tracks (all originals) have a little déjà-entendu feel, using all of the trad European folk (so far from the three I have heard none of them as a particular Basque musical particularity that would sound as typically Basque) a bit in the Celtic or medieval manner (especially the third and seventh track), with jigs and rounds, and the almost obligatory dual male/female vocals but also more reflective moods - and this is where it gets interesting!!! Hala Bate, the album's finale Agur, Lo Hago, and the album centrepieces Xori Bele and Jarrai are all excellent tracks with sometimes haunting melodies.

In case you are wondering on D-E Asbjornsen's advice on this album in his book, Scented Garden Of The Minds, I heard nothing wrong with the transfer even if the sound is not of remastered quality. A worthy effort, and if folk is your trip, a real must.

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