CALIFAS DEL ROCK

MEZQUITA second album is, in many ways, close to their excellent debut, ''Recuerdos de mi Tierra''. All ingredients are here: virtuostic guitars and keyboards, passionate vocals, some hints of Arabian music (seems a trademark of all bands from Cordoba). But the magic's gone. Probably because some songs became closer to mainstream rock.

Not essential, but anyway interesting (and I must add, hard to find) album, especially for fans of Spanish prog. But get ''Recuerdos de mi Tierra'' first.

This second album is a serious let down compared to their excellent debut released only two years prior this one. Like other Spanish bands like "Triana" or "Medina Azahara", they evolved towards a much more blended rock music. True to say that the Andalusian style is still present (together with some definite Oriental influence) but it is primarily pure and straight forward rock oriented.

Here and there some fine guitar break, but this is really not enough when compared to their "Recuerdos De Mi Tierra" which remains their absolute reference (and for sure one of the Spanish prog in general).

Theatrical vocals, heavy beats and average melody is on the menu as well ("La Última Juerga") and such a song is quite a deception. But the whole of this (very short) work is. Gone is the inspiration, deep feel, personality. We are just in front of a decent Spanish rock album from the eighties. Big deal!

To pint out a highlight is not an easy job. Just a collection of average songs, I'm afraid. The only number which is on par with their debut is the brilliant closing "La Montaña, La diudad": an explosion of synth, great rhythms and fantasy. It is by far the best of what's available. It is only a pity that no more of these are present on this work. As such I rate this album with two stars.

This is the second and last, more "pop rock" oriented album by Mezquita. They've bumped up their arabic influences but've dropped the progressiveness that the first album had almost entirely, with average lyrics and "easier" vocals, so if you're looking for progressive rock, check out the first album.

Their closing track, "La montaña, La Ciudad" is very reminiscent of their first album, with long instrumental breaks and the return of the original poetic lyrics and vocals, and is about as progressive as this album gets.

The opening "Cuento Árabe" isn't really progressive, but it's very catchy and Arabic, and one of my favorites of the album.

"La Última Juerga" is probably nothing too special, but it reminds me of Mana, specifically their song "Oye Mi Amor". That's all.