SPANISH PROGRESSIVE MUSIC
Oddly enough flamenco became trademark for Spain while it was merely music from the gipsies who immigrated in Spain. The part of Spanish progressive music that adapted the flamenco,called flamenco rock, I like very much,. An introduction in flamenco rock you can find on separate page about the "introduction to flamenco fusion". Of course there are other
kinds of progressive music. I listed all interesting links I know on this page. Anyone who knows more links, please tell me.
GENERAL LINKS :
An introduction about Flamenco Fusion/rock I provided at a seperate page about Flamenco Fusion/ Flamenco rock
60's beat,garage,punk in Spain : http://60spunk.m78.com/brincos.htm
Spanish progressive groups : http://usuarios.iponet.es/cfalp/INDEX-E.HTM
Good Spanish Prog (encycl.) site (http://nuvol.uji.es/~inesta/Music/prog-e.html in Spanish)
in English : http://www.dlsi.ua.es/~inesta/Prog/SPE/index.html
Spanish prog rock site at http://www.geocities.com/rock_progresivo/
Spanish prog, English article at http://www.progrock.net/Articles/spain.article
Spannish prog site at http://usuarios.iponet.es/%7Ecfalp/ESP/esp-e.htm
Spanish prog at http://www.geocities.com/rock_progresivo/
For Spanish prog music look also at
For Spanish groups look also at http://www.cadena100.es/Barna/websp.htm
Spanish progressive at http://usuarios.iponet.es/cfalp/INDEX-E.HTM
Prog music store based in Spain : http://www.panymusica.com/
& Acetato Records at
Spanish record shop at http://www.discosmelocoton.com/CDsInternacionales/S.5.htm
Some mail orders at http://www.ideaspararegalo.com/direct/discos.htm
For Catalanian music you can see at http://www.rockcatala.net/
The Spanish speaking countries prog music site : http://members.tripod.com/~Gandalf001/
Spanish Search engine at http://www.elindice.com/Musica/Discos/
Some poems from musicians http://www.geocities.com/Paris/1317/poemes-index.html
INDIVIDUAL GROUPS :
I did not list all possible interesting names, because I believe there exist already some very good encyclopaedia on the net which I listed above. I might add more later, with links to appropriate links on the net, the same way I did with Latin American groups.
Now here is listed only my limited knowledge and what I personally think is interesting according to my personal taste.
Some of the Spanish progressive items I possess are given a small review here :
AMAROK
* Private Amarok : Els Nostres Petits Amics (1994)*°
* Sonifolk Amarok : Canciones de los Mundos Perdidos (1994)***
Some beautiful symphonic tracks on this album.
* private Amarok : Gibra'ara (1997)****
A perfect beautiful art-folk release.
Very consistent in style.
* private Amarok : Tierra de especias (2000)**** (perfect release)
Very professional production, ethnic fusion,some jazz influences, progressive music influences, some art folk, may be to be called progressive symphonic world music.
Highly recommended. Also to Dead Can Dance lovers. A classic for all genres.
Web Sites : http://manelpm.eresmas.net/amarok.htm (used to be http://personal.redestb.es/manelpm/amarok.htm)
Also some info at http://www.dlsi.ua.es/~inesta/Prog/SPE/amarok.html
BORNE
I heard only one very good flamenco fusion track from this group from 1979.
More info at http://www.dlsi.ua.es/~inesta/Prog/SPE/borne.html
LOS BRINCOS
Spanish 60's punk group at : http://60spunk.m78.com/brincos.htm I've no clue if they were good or not ; I included it also because it's a nice looking page). Later I found out they had morte progressive work in '70.
CARMEN
Being not a Spanish group, but from the UK, this group does makes flamenco rock with energy as if coming from Spain. So I prefer to list them here.
Line Rec. Carmen : Fandangos in Space (1972)***°°
(German review) at http://www.babyblaue-seiten.de/bands/carmen.html
Carmen : Dancing on a Cold Wind (1975)***°
Carmen : The Gypsies (1975)**°
at http://www.artrock.msk.ru/review/advanced/carmen/gypsies.htm or http://www.collecting-tull.com/Discography/Cds/Related/Carmen_Gypsies.htm
Seperate Web Sites at http://www.fandangosinspace.com/ & http://www.collecting-tull.com/TullTree/Carmen.htm &
(in Dutch) : http://io.net4u.nl/dossier/carmen.htm
Review of first two albums now is done on http://progressive.homestead.com/prog-3.html#anchor_150
ALFREDO CARRION
Fonomusic
Alfredo Carrion : Los Andares del Alquimista (SP,1976)****°
Alfredo Carrion : Los Andares del Alquimista (SP,1976)****°Beautiful highly into depth emotional vocals and folk prog at first site, for its soul highly recommended. A bit more experimental electronic prog (but less nice) within song structure in "Romance", and a 17 minute very classical orchestrated track, at first not progressive, but then with jazzy elements added, and a second slightly prog rock part, with some orchestrations. Third part has a very nice adaptation of a classical medieval theme, that is really very good combined with progressive music. This track is good, and enjoyable but not incredible at first, but at the end very good. Unless my few remarks I give this a very high grading.
Small review http://www.gepr.net/ca.html#CARRIONALFREDO
Japanese page : http://www.mm-m.ne.jp/chipmunk/ALFREDOCARRION.html
CRACK
interesting item with interesting compositions ; somewhat Italian style flavored.
Korean reissue at http://www.siwan.co.kr/2/5_1.html
Review at http://64.177.137.64/reviews/crack.html & http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Backstage/8250/yetanother5.html#crak
Japanese page : http://www.mm-m.ne.jp/chipmunk/CRACK.html
DINO DEL MONTE
Beautiful siter (dulcimer) with other instruments. Flamenco ? Fusion with power until it's progressive music on the first track. Energetic and beautiful, talented on first track. More quiet,relaxed on the other tracks.
Sonifolk Dino del Monte : Entre los tiepos(1996)***°
Web Site with info : http://www.amazings.com/galleries/gallery0084.html with this release at
Spanish page at http://www.el-mundo.es/2000/12/20/madrid/20N0035.html
Label : http://www.sonifolk.com/eng/
FUSIOON
Their third item which is a tremendous adventurous monster with beside rock and classical also electronic instruments. Very interesting fusing compositions.
Review at http://gnosis2000.net/reviews/fusioon.htm & http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/fus-min.html &
Japanese page : http://www.mm-m.ne.jp/chipmunk/FUSIOON.html
GUALBERTO
A very respected musician by me. He cooperated with Smash, Triana,..some flamenco artists.
He made very nice mostly very progressive arrangements. Another achievement is his flamenco guitar playing on the sitar. His first record is half UK ssw (singing a bit like Greg Lake), the other half soft flamenco rock (with one wonderful track with sitar). The second is more complex composed progressive instrumental music. "Cult. Jonda" is beautiful flamencorock and some progressive cooperations from that period. His work with Mino are non traditional flamenco improvisations guitar/sitar, sometimes with odd rhythms (rumba,..). I made a separate page about Gualberto.
Fonomusic Gualberto y Agujetas : Inquitudes a compás (Cult.Jonda 12)(1968-1971)*****
Lost Vinyl Gualberto : A la vida-al dolor (1968?)***°°
Lost Vinyl Gualberto : Vericuetos ()****°
Dial Discos Gualberto & Ricardo Mino : Puento Magico (1983)***°
Pasarella Gualberto & Ricardo Mino : Contrastes (2000)****
All items are recommended. Links for Gualberto (,cover scans and informaton) at my seperate page about Gualberto.
IA & BATTISTE
Their second folk like ssw album contains some nice tracks. The first one is prog poprock with some beautiful accoustic songs, one song with humour like on Sisa's first. It's an album with several faces.
PDI Ia & Battiste : Un Gran Dia (1972)*°
ICEBERG
Very good jazz Fusion prog for Fusion interested. With some disolved flamenco influences.
I heard only Arc en Ciel (1978)?
IMAN,CALIFATO INDIPENDIENTE
Splendid symphonic fusion prog with only very slight flamenco spots
LEBRIJANTO
A beautiful Arab Andalusian Fusion release with powerful voice (Spanish voice, Orchestra from Tangier) is EMI El Lebrijanto con la Orquesta Arábigo Andaluza ; Casablanca (1998)****
LOLE Y MANUEL
Tremendous Flamenco duo : Smash guitarist Manuel Molina and his wife.(1977)*****
METAMORPHOSIS
I heard one track in soft jazzy Canterbury style.
MEZQUITA
I one heard their only release. I was not so convinced then because just before I had heard the best Argentinean and Italian items. It had similarities in style without coming out so clear as the classic items. I hope I have the chance to hear it again.
Some info at http://www.dlsi.ua.es/~inesta/Prog/SPE/mezquita.html
MUSICA DISPERSA
Completely odd music, psychedelic folk in a clear acid and unique way. This is Sisa's first group.
PDI Musica Dispersa (1971)**** Some info at http://www.dlsi.ua.es/~inesta/Prog/SPE/mudispersa.html
NEURONIUM
While most names in this list are still within the range of flamenco Rock, this must be an important electronic music work, very much like early Klaus Schulze.
First album is combined with acoustic instruments like "Blackdance" from Klaus Schulze and thus very good, second work is less developed. One track there has however the voice of Nico.
Ramalama Music Neuronium : Quasar 2C361 (1977)***'
Ramalama Music Neuronium : Vuelo Quimico (1978)*
(Some information of second album : http://aubry.free.fr/nneuron.htm)
Web Site (with nice video's,sound) : http://www.neuronium.com/
With discography at http://www.neuronium.com/discos_es.htm
Article or reviews at http://www.amazings.com/galleries/gallery0001.html (: several pages) and at http://www.rmsinstrumentacion.com/sideb/neronium/neuronium.htm
E-mail : neuronium@neuronium.com
Some extra info at http://www.dlsi.ua.es/~inesta/Prog/SPE/neuronium.html
NU
A progressive flamenco hard rock group with Jethro Tull influences.
BMG Nu : Cuentos de Ayer Y De Hoy (1978)****
Korean release at http://www.changgo.com/changgo/search_detail?gubun=Album&al_code=27320
German review : http://www.progressive-newsletter.de/cd23_37.htm
BMG Nu : A Golpe de Latigo (1979)***
with information at http://www.ammoniterecords.demon.co.uk/KashmirRecords/artists/NU.html#NU
Website at http://templorock.iespana.es/templorock/nu/
Extra info at http://www.dlsi.ua.es/~inesta/Prog/SPE/nyu.html
Japanese page http://www.mm-m.ne.jp/chipmunk/NU.html
NHU
I only heard one great prog fusion track, with added organ.
Some info : http://www.dlsi.ua.es/~inesta/Prog/SPE/nhu.html
LA NUIT OBSCURE (text : San Juan de la Cruz ; singers : Pradal,Guirao,Vélasquez)(1996)**
Very theatrical project. Very heavy full voices. Unfortunately a bit too much effect approach. First notes have full effect.
PAU RIBA
PDI Pau Riba : Jo, La Donya I el Gripau (1971)*°This item is odd dement psych folk. I heard some other works of his, which I believe are respected, but I could not find satisfaction in listening to them at all.
Short introduction at http://ttt.cam.upv.es/~mamamu1/riba.html & (in Spanish) http://www.el-mundo.es/2001/10/13/catalunya/1058469.html
Pictures : http://www.rockcatala.net/fotos/priba/
SABICAS & Joe Beck.
Sabicas is know as flamenco guitarist. He had one very progressive project, from 1966, very early in date for its style, being already flamenco rock. Joe Beck as a rock musician experimented not only with oud to make one of the first examples of middle eastern rock with Jehn Berberian, he also was pioneer to experiment with Sabicas to make one of the first flamenco rock experiments, sometimes still playing in two layers over each other, reaching each other but not completely from out of the newly formed genre. But it is good and somehow unique in its kind. I prefer however some tracks.
Polydor Sabicas & Joe Beck : Rock Encounter(1966)***°°
Sabicas introduction page at http://www.flamenco-world.com/artists/sabicas/sabicas.htm
(JAUME) SISA
First album is weird ssw, with lots of musical jokes. Only therefore unique, or odd. Very good.
Double album has very nice instrumentation. A bit less progressive, but very good too.
DPI Sisa : Orgia (1971)****
DPI Sisa : La Cathedral (1977)****
Web Sites (SP) http://personal.redestb.es/mcarreras/Jaume%20Sisa.htm
SMASH
From What I heard of Smash I believe this group showed its potential with Gualberto, but for the rest were more "legendary" for the changes they added in Spanish music. I heard their first album, but didn't find it so extremely in any way at all. But the few flamenco rock with sitar tracks with Gualberto they made were wonderful.
TRIANA
One of the most known flamenco rock bands. Their two first records are mostly recommended. I liked the first record the most. Both are good. Later the style might have become a bit more popular.
FonomusicTriana : El Patio (1977?)*****
Triana : El Patio (1977?)*****FonomusicTriana : Hijos del Agobio (1978?)***
Triana : Hijos del Agobio (1978?)***Japanese Website :
VEGA
Soft progressive flamenco-rock.
Vega : Andaluza (1978) ***°
I hope I will add more items soon. Anyone knows interesting items not to miss (progressive, flamenco rock or fusion), please E-mail me your information, links,..
If you want to know what I did play in the radioprogram see the playlists-txt file
You can read more small reviews of some items which I gave airplay at the following playlist :
and http://psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com/files/spain_2.txt (2003-10-15)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seperate pages :
Basque music is listed seperately. See at Basque Music
(Catalan Music link http://www.terra.es/personal/acic.cat/mcc/index.html or
completely updated 2002-03-20
(back to the main index of my radio program).
