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Bloque - Bloque  CD (album) cover

BLOQUE

Bloque

 

Eclectic Prog

2.95 | 26 ratings

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apps79
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
2 stars 2.5 stars actually...

Despite being around since 1973 and having a good live activity,BLOQUE didn't release anything until 1978.The band got together in Santander under the forces of bassist Luis Pastor, guitarist/vocalist Juan Jose Respuela, drummer Francisco Baņos and guitarist/vocalist Sixto Ruiz, but it was the arrival of keyboardist Juan Carlos Gutierrez, which gave the band a richer and more elaborate sound.BLOQUE played in various important festivals,among them a couple of great gigs in Leon and Burgos and finally released their self- titled debut in 1978 on Chapa Records and produced by radio/press pioneer Vicente Romero.

Loving both the sound of ALLMAN BROTHERS and progressive rock, BLOQUE presented a semi-prog disc with varied influences, styles, tempos and atmospheres,but built on the guitars of Respuela and Ruiz...and with two guitarist on the line-up it is reasonable that the musicianship is guitar-driven.The Respuela/Ruiz duo delivers some good solos, powerful grooves, a few fusion touches of the Spanish Prog school, while a couple of sweet ballads with acoustic guitars on the front add a more relaxed feeling, sometimes recalling TRIANA, if you add the atmospheric keyboards.Speaking of keyboards, Gutierrez, while he is a great keyboardist and uses a variety of keys including synths,mellotron and organ, actually remains under the shades of Respuela and Ruiz,though in a couple of moments he offers some nice and flashy synths.

The sound and influence of ALLMAN BROTHERS is what really dominates the album,which is a good rock album with some progressive leanings,but it can get a little bit boring for those who expect somekind of complex or more adventuruous listenings.Fortunately the band would soon switch into more progressive fields.Heading almost exclusively to fans of Spanish rock and guitar-based prog rock.

apps79 | 2/5 |

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