ZAGUAN

This band was rooted in 1997 when the brothers Gomez, Miguel and Armando met Jose Antonio Mazo Cabeza (nicknamed Gori) in a park in the Andalusian capital Seville. As a tribute to the late Jesus De La Rosa from Spanish progrock legend Triana they started as a Triana cover band. Under the name Raices (Spanish for 'roots') the group played in different venues in Seville and they recorded a first demo in the Sound Farm studios (Seville) in 2000. Raices recorded three songs from Triana En El Lago", Tu Frialdad and Luminosa Manana) along with two other own compositions entitled Debo Culpar and Por Ti. Then Raices started to tour and shared the bill with known Andalusian Rock bands like Alameda and Mediana Azahara. During one of their live performances they met Javier Garcia Pelayo, brother of a known Andalucian rock producer Gonzalo Garcia Pelayo. He invited them to participate in a tribute record to Jesus de la Rosa (edited by Fonomusic), playing by the first time under the name of Zaguan. After this Javier Garcia Pelayo became their manager and Gonzalo Garcia Pelayo their producer, recording their first official record in 2002, three years later followed by their successor entitled Testigo Del Tiempo.

Like Jesus De La Rosa from Triana the vocals are also provided by a keyboard players who sings, Miguel Angel in this case. And he does an excellent job, what a wonderful voice, very expressive but without that typical wailing undertone as in the flamenco, an extra dimension in Zaguan its music. On their debut album it's no surprise that Zaguan presents a sound that is mighty close to Triana. But the 11 short tracks sound less in the symphonic rock tradition, more as a blend of melodic rock and flamenco, embellished with fiery electric guitar, lush Hammond and, of course, the distinctive flamenco guitar, how exciting, this is the wonderful world of the Rock Andaluz! And on their second album Zaguan even sounded better, far from original but "better a good copy than a bad original" is the perfect saying for Zaguan its very pleasant Rock Andaluz sound.

My rating: 3,5 star.

It is quite easy to think what to expect from a band with so much love for the music of TRIANA, the only question is whether the music is up to the standards the pioneers of Andalusian Rock set back in mid-70's.The answer is definitely yes, although the group seems at moments like ripping off the ideas of their ancestors, but the pieces on ''Zaguan'' are full of Spanish passion and pure emotions, played under the influence of Andalusian music.Flamenco-styled gypsy guitars meet electric textures and vintage keyboard tunes to come up with solid, sensitive and interesting tracks.The atmosphere is rather laid-back with nice Spanish vocals, good organ themes and constantly changing guitar lines.Sometimes the electric textures are more pronounced and the tracks have often a slight Jazz/Fusion taste akin to GUADALQUIVIR.However the majority of this release recalls the deep and atmospheric approach of TRIANA minus their light symphonic touches.The vocal lines are great, so are some beautiful Latin melodies contained, while half about of the tracks do have some nice instrumental variety with alternating moves on keyboards and guitars.

One of the few contemporary groups that are able to ressurect TRIANA's unique style through original compositions.Emotional, sensitive and imaginative Andalusian Rock, executed with 100% focus on the Andalusian music roots.Recommended, despite the obvious lack of personality.

One of the trademarks of the Spanish progressive rock is its originality: in the past from bands like Ibio, Carmen, Atila, Itoiz and the flamenco inspired Prog Andaluz bands like Triana, Cai, Mezquita and Azahar and in the present from bands like Bijou, Unoma, Kotobel and Senogul. Zaguan is another interesting Spanish band, they are rooted in 1997 and started as a Triana cover band. If you listen to the vocals this is not a surprise, incredible how similar the singer sounds to the late Jesus De La Rosa who tragically died in a car accident in 1983.

If I compare Zaguan their own compositions to early Triana (first four albums when they delivered genuine Prog Andaluz), I analyse that Zaguan sound less symphonic (short compositions and a small range of keyboards) and more folky because of the more omnipresent flamenco guitar. The 11 songs on this CD are a very melodic and tasteful progressive blend of rock, folk and symphonic featuring strong and expressive vocals (but not that typical wailing of the flamenco singers), some fiery and howling electric guitar, fluent Hammond organ solos and lots of exciting flamenco guitar runs. If you like Prog Andaluz, especially early Triana their captivating and compelling sound, Zaguan is worth to check out, WHAT A MOVING EXPERIENCE!

My rating: 3,5 stars.