RECUERDOS DE MI TIERRA

The embryonal part of four piece formation Mezquita its history starts in 1970, in Cordoba. On the square of the breathtaking Mezquita young people have vivid and endless conversations about music. Two groups take themselves deadly serious, fuelled by their artistic instincts and huge admiration for Jimi Hendrix, the icon in those years, their names are Return and Expression. Both bands suffer from long militairy duties and an humiliating attitude towards Andalusia from the Franco dictatorship (until his fall in 1977). But almost 10 years later, in 1979, these two ambitious but immature bands have transformed in nationally praised Rock Andaluz bands, after releasing artistic and commercial successful debut albums: one band is the legendary Medina Azahara with Paseando Por La Mezquita, and the other is Mezquita with Recuerdos Di Mi Tierrra, nowadays considered as an essential Rock Andaluz album.

Listening to this album is making an unique musical journey in the land of the realm of the Rock Andaluz. The six varied and dynamic compositions contain elements from a wide range of bands, from Cream, Deep Purple, Mahavishna Orchestra, Pink Floyd and Iron Butterfly to Triana and Cai. But this music is hard to pigeonhole, no jazzrock, symphonic rock or avant-garde, this can only be categorized as Rock Andaluz. Just listen to the omnipresent sultry sounding Minimoog synthesizer with strong Morish overtones, the interludes with flamenco guitar and the powerful Spanish vocals, loaded with emotion and expression (including the rolling 'r'), unique prog, unsurpassed!

And Mezquita has made a real gem with Recuerdos De Mi Tierra, every composition contains strong musical ideas, surprising breaks and outstanding soli on guitar and synthesizer. This is topped with a powerful and dynamic rhythm-section and distinctive vocals that match perfectly with the Morish atmospheres in the compositions.

Lots of shifting moods, great interplay between the fiery electric guitar and sultry Minimoog synthesizer, a break with flamenco guitar runs and Farfisa organ waves and in the end swinging piano, passionate vocals, flamenco rhythm guitar and lush synthesizer flights in the long and alternating titletrack.

Raw, fiery and propulsive electric guitar work, a dreamy part with warm vocals and soaring strings, and lots of great moments between the electric guitar and synthesizer, it's all very dynamic in El Bizco De Los Patios.

From swinging with a powerful bass to flamenco guitar runs with delicate violin strings, again topped with passionate vocals in Desde Que Somos Dos.

From palmas (handclapping) in a swinging rhythm with strong interplay between the electric guitar and synthesizer to a break with powerful electric guitar and soaring Farfisa organ and unique vocal harmonies (singing Ara Buza, Ara Buza) in Ara buza (Dame un beso).

In the track Suicidijo we can enjoy the Morish answer to Great Gig In The Sky from PinkFloyd, very expressive and compelling vocals! The harder-edged guitar and organ evoke early Seventies Deep Purple. And lots of musical ideas, from an exciting flamenco guitar solo to a Minimoog solo with sensational use of the pitchbend button.

The final instrumental track Obertura En Si Bemol is swinging jazzrock with again dynamic interplay between the electric guitar and synthesizer, fuelled by a powerful rhythm-section. In the end a short but subtle presence of the Mellotron, with the choir section. Another example of the variety and outstanding compositional skills of Mezquita on this album.

To me this album sounds as one of the highlights of the Rock Andaluz movement, emphasizing how unique and distinctive this kind of music is. Unfortunately their second effort was inferior, and bass player Randy Lopez joined Medina Azahara, the other famous Rock Andaluz band from Cordoba.

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