QA'A

Qa'a biography
Qa'a were a Spanish krautrock project from Barcelona, founded in 2006 by multi-instrumentalist Víctor Hurtado with an ever-changing lineup which later included guitarist/synthesist Ben O'Mahoney and percussionist Yarei Molina. Described by Freq as "the musical subconscious of Steven Stapleton's infamous list that came with [Nurse With Wound]'s first record," Qa'a's noisy experimental rock deftly referenced half a century's worth of avant-garde music, blending free jazz, sound collage, dark ambient and psych-folk. Named after an ancient Egyptian king (which Brainticket would surely have appreciated), Qa'a self-described their sound as "psychedelic ritual noise," and nods to occult esoterica and the I Ching dotted the band's aesthetic.

Noticeable influences from Can, both Amon Düüls and Captain Beefheart's Magic Band were synthesised into exciting and refreshing new forms across a trilogy of sprawling albums, all released via Hurtado's label Màgia Roja: 2009's Vesprada and Chi'en and 2013's Sang. While Qa'a's production was mostly managed by Hurtado, Faust's Hans Joachim Irmler was summoned as executive producer for Chi'en. A noted fan of the band along with Lydia Lunch, Julian Cope and the aforementioned Steve Stapleton, Irmler later invited Qa'a to perform at 2010's Klangbad Festival.

Qa'a dissolved in the wake of Sang, with Hurtado and Molina joining Chris Haslam (of heavy-kraut group Gnod) to form the more industrial/power electronics-oriented Ordre Etern.


- Gordy, April 2024