SIN TIEMPO

well, what to say... im from spain and im used to foreign groups. thats why i like this one so much... when you listen to this, you feel the music is kinda different and the voice adds a very intensive tone. in my opinion british music is the best, the most productive and intellligent and thats why if you listen to this, you will find different things, in part because its not british music, theres originality here. You wont regret, i promise. Its passionate and exciting. The lenght is just how it has to be. GREAT!!! Please forgive my horrible english.

This Spanish band released a great and heavy symphonic debut album and doubled this with a very decent follow-up. What came next, were two weak Spanish pop-rock albums which are best avoided. They came up with another good work when they released "En El Hakim" (although it was nothing form the other world).

Some three years later, the band came back with this album with a rather different line-up. Huuum.

If you are looking for any prog flavour, I have to tell you that you can just forget it. Mainstream and basic Spanish rock. I far much prefer "Mecano" in this style. At least, they sound melodic, which is not the case here.

I also happen to be fluent in Spanish and these lyrics aren't really of the greatest interest. So, the bill which is presented here is the following: poor lyrics, poor (to none) melodies, non-existing passion and not a single minute of prog music.

Of course, if you are interested in basic AOR stuff, "Solo Y Sin Tí "should be a must. But are we in such a mood on this site? I guess not. I have to admit though, that there is an excellent guitar break: but is this sufficient to make a good album? You know the answer.

"Medina Azahara" was more successful commercially than "Triana" and absorbed most of the marketing means to promote the band in the early eighties. When I listen to such an album, I am quite perplexed though.

To listen to the whole of this album was not a fine experience. Fortunately, there are some GREAT (yes, in capital) and passionate guitar breaks here and there, but these are so short in comparison with the length of this album.

The overall mood is almost hard-rocking. But do I need to listen to a Spanish oriented hard-rock band? The answer is: NO (if ever you would have any doubt). If you want to live a better experience, I would just recommend you to listen to "Ñu" and their fantastic debut album (which I rated with five stars).

This album is not a total disaster; but you need to be prepared for a casual hard-rock treat. But don't expect any "In Rock" experience of course. I am wondering why this band sits in the eclectic part of this site. I thought that it was dedicated to the most sophisticated, complex and intricate music available. It is far from this offering.

Basic Spanish hard-rock. Two stars. But consider this as an upgrade.

"Sin Tiempo" is one of the most representative albums of Medina Azahara, a curious band from Cordoba, Andalucia, south o Spain.

They were originally born at the end of 70's very influenced by another famous band from Andalucia, Triana. The voice of Manuel Martínez is very similar to the Jesús de la Rosa's one, and so are the oriental music influences. Maybe Medina Azahara were less flamenco, and more arabic, but similar anyway.

But Medina Azahara suffered a change in their mussical style... From the andalucian prog-rock of the beginning, they evolved to a more conventional heavy-rock, but still with the arabic touch and the curious Manuel's voice. And "Sin Tiempo" is just that, a heavy album from beginning to end, without any prog element, but with a strong spanish feeling.

The sound of the album is not spectacular, being the guitars a bit weak in my opinion... Although Paco Ventura is a very talented player. You only have to hear the fantastic solos in Solo y Sin Ti... And the songs are also ok, being Todo Tiene Su Fin and Necesito Respirar the two most famous Medina Azahara's hymns. The lyrics are cheesy and sometimes even ridiculous, but they are listenable.

So although this album is good, I can't recommended to any prog lover, because is just not prog. Just for curious heavy searchers.

Best songs: Solo y Sin Ti (a fine ballad), Todo tiene Su fin (a great version), Junto a Lucía (cool hard rock track) and Necesito Respirar (the chorus is too repetitive, but the song is good)

Conclusion: "Sin Tiempo" is very far from the Triana influenced first years of the band, so you will not find prog here... Just a curious hard rock / heavy album with some cool andalucian and arabic arrangements, and with some fine tracks too. Just for collectors.

My personal rating: ***

ProgArchives rating: **