ÑU

I don't understand why this record is so highly rated. There are of course two good songs: El Juglar and Paraiso de Flautas, but the others are just average to my ears. And there is also a lack of originality: there is a lot of Tull in the flute playing and the violin reminds me of Quella Vecchia Locanda. The problem with this record are the voices: I find them very irritating (and yet I like the Spanish language in rock). Fortunately, there is room for a lot of instrumental development in the two longer songs. So my rating will be 3 stars, nothing more and I'm sure this will be the only Ñu record in my collection.

"Cuentos de Ayer y de Hoy" (Tales from yesterday and today) is an album full of personality. When the music is going to a place where you may find similarity with another band, something ressembling a influence, the music changes to another direction - sometimes to track to track, sometimes inside one long track (as is the case of "Paraiso de Flautas").

The five stars are probably by the blend of hard rock (rock duro, as the spanish calls), with good guitar riffs licking the rithmic violons - better than multiple UK bands. However, I do find more atractive the angry lyics and vocal approach with the frenetic flute that driven the album to a point where everything change and the music is beautifull calm and epic (as the last tracks).

This style, this kind of music is difficult to find in the others spanish groups - or even in the other Ñu works, that onlt the second and last album are of some quality worth to listen.

Great underground spanish album. In 1978, it seems like a UK (Wetton, Brufford, Jobson, Holdsworth) spanish album. Especially, Violin sections in first song 'Profecia' reminds me Eddie Jobson work on UK an early Roxy Music. We can hear energic vocals and heart-rending by Jose Carlos Molina in the whole disc, but these are more suitable in the cut 'Preparan'. Also noted, strong guitar work in the song 'El Juglar'. But not all are UK influences. Leading Vocals paper by Molina includes espectacular flute work, as if he were Ian Anderson (Jehtro Tull). The duel of the violin and flute in 'El Juglar' is spectacular. However, Bass and Drums are very heavy, maybe proto-metal.

In conclusion, 'Cuentos de Ayer y de Hoy' is a little-known album in spain, but with great progressive rock moments.

(+) Instrumental work, Flute + Violin (-) Heart-rending vocals aren't my favourite way to explain progressive rock concepts. This thing makes me to rate 4 Stars, not as Masterpiece Triana - 'Abre La Puerta' for example.

Through the decades "Ñu" has been rather faithful to its hard-rock oriented music. The difference between this band and others hard-rock ones is the use of the flute which automatically brings you in the Tull territories. Their "unplugged" live effort "La Noche del Juglar" is an extraordinary example for this.

The opening number "Mazmorra" is quite a different song. It starts on a great and fully prog "overture". I have never heard "Ñu" like this. Almost a symphony. Beautiful flute and aerial keys. A wonderful start. It sounds at times like ELP (yes, pompous) and it blew me from the very first seconds I was listening to it. The beat finally catches up (this is still "Ñu", right) ? and delivers a fantastic hard-rocking second half. Great start.

The problem now would be to be on par after such a great number. But, unfortunately the couple of songs that follow are on the heavy side even if a nice flute interlude will bring a bit of freshness during "Aramundi".

"Gracias" is a very strange track. A weird combination of punk background with some flute during the intro. What a mix ! This wild song is the result of several musical influences : some Oriental ones, hard-rocking ones as well. The use of violin gives a certain "Kansas" flavour to it. This song is quite complex and weird; hard to categorize. But interesting.

Middle-East sounds seem to have deeply marked Carlos Molina ("Ñu" 's leader) because the intro of "Sacrificio" is largely impregnated by this culture. But it is globally another hard-rock song with added subtlety as usual (violin and flute). The backing riff sounds almost as a "Dream Theatre" one.

The whole mood of this album is too similar and after the first half, one gets a bit tired. Each songs features a great part (just listen this beautiful guitar solo during "Dagas" or "Entrega Romántica"). But these are too short IMO.

But there will be "Hada" (fairy). A wonderful piece of music. Almost a rock-opera on his own. Delicate flute, pompous and strong sections as well (like in the opening number), a fully Tullesque orientation later on. The so typical Martin Barre's riffs can easily be identified in this song. Very pleasant vocals as well (which is not always the case since Molina often opts for a too theatrical style).

"Hada" is the longest "Ñu" number. But I have to to say that not a second of these ten minutes are boring. Very much "This As A Brick" oriented. Since it is one of my Tull fave, I could only be pleased. A great song, trust me. The finale and its great guitar solo is just fabulous. A five star piece of work. It raises the level of this album; no doubt about that. I only wished I could upload this song to share it with you.

The third very good song is the closing number. "La Boca Del Infierno" is good damned hard-rock song. Almost Purple-ish. Fabulous beat, great guitar solo and heavy keys.

This album is more directed towards the hard-rock fans. But except in Spain, this band has very little (to none) exposure. Extremely few reviews with a comment on PA. But since the prog elements in their entire history are not so many, I guess it is all logical. In Spain, the band is classified as metal...

"Ñu" will continue its career and will release another studio album in 2003 called "Títeres" (puppets). In an interview, during which Carlos Molina was asked about his expectations, he simply replied "I hope to be able to play it live and that "Ñu" will live for another thirty year". A heck of an enthusiast, this guy !

Three stars for "Requiem" but mostly due to "Mazmorra" and "Hada"; two great songs.

"Ñu" released a studio album called "La Taberna Encantada" in 1997 (but is absent from PA for reviewing). Since there are several mistakes in "Ñu" 's discography I will soon report these when I will have finished my reviews of this very good Spanish band.

The current mistake is that this is a live album. Not a studio one. Their previous one dated from 1992 : "Imperio De Paletos". Actually, this one holds five songs already featured on "Imperio". So you might think that this album is useless. Well, not really.

Most of these songs will be played differently on this album. Actually this is almost an unplugged album. There will be a much more folkish mood in this live set. Of course, a song as "Robin Hood" was already a folkish one but this is the best version available. And the same will apply for "Tocaba Correr". What to say about "La Granja Del Loco" (the fool's farm). Fully Tullesque ("Songs From The Wood") while most of the time "Ñu" has sounded like the hardest Tull you would have dreamed of (or hate maybe).

This live album will feature a lot of sweet and great flute play. But Molina is a great flute player. And this is probably why I love this unknown band so much. It is really incredible how the music of "Ñu" sounds like. I just hope that some of you have read some of my "Ñu" 's reviews (I have reviewed each of their work) and figure out by themsleves (any Spanish reviewer in the audience ) ?

Needless to talk about "El Flautista" of course (the flute player). It is their "Locomotive Breath" or "Aqualung" meaning that they have played it live an awful lot of times. Always a highlight in their concert. You should really watch this out if you are a flute fan (like I am). This time it won't be shortened (like it was the case in the previous live album). It is an extraordinary prog-folk song. Any folk specialist out there ?

The title track of their last studio album (at the time of release of this live one) "La Taberna Encantada" is another prog-folk jewel. Fantastic flute play. But José Molina IS a flute player. Just listen to "Trovador De Ciudad". What a great intro ! But not only. It is another jewel of an interpretation.

This live album should please any prog-folk fan. Any flute fan. Any good music fan. Of course lyrics are in Spanish but this shouldn't be a reason to ignore this very good band. If you want to discover their harder side in concert, I recommend you to listen to "No Hay Ningun Loco".

"De Fiesta" is another great folk-oriented song. Like in the good old days, some nice violin will be present. If you know a bit the Purple discography (because "Ñu" will also act as a cover band during their darkest days - Purple and Led Zep being the covered ones) you will recognize the riff of "Black Night". Amazing.

IMHHO (humble and honest as always) this is the live album any Tull fan should listen to. Each of them (to which I belong BTW) would be amazed with the great music they would discover. What a live set ! Fabulous, really.

Oh ! I almost forgot (on purpose actually) : there is a surprise on this album. "La Casa Del Rey". Lots of you might know this one. A guess ! Come on ! OK, here are some hints.

Rey means king in Spanish. Still no idea ? Come on ! Another hint ? OK.

Casa means house.

Yes sir, they will play "House Of The King" (from "Focus" for the ones who still don't know). A pleasant version during which a violin solo will replace the flute one. Rather original.

Great unplugged live effort even if the last two songs are not super. I usually do not like at all this type of exercise but this one really blows me. Four stars y muchas gracias para este excellente disco.

This is the second live album from this Spanish band. Their music is now fully hard-rock oriented. But the link with Tull is still noticeable. This is of course based on the fantastic flute play by its incontestable leader : Carlos Molina.

Each song of this album features great fluting. The band confirms that it gets back to its harder side; it was again in their last studio album : "Dos Años De Destierro" which followed their most folk-oriented one : "El Mensaje Del Mago". Neither were good albums, unfortunately.

In their first live album, "Ñu" played several unreleased tracks. On this album, this tendancy has been repeated. Only a couple of them will be part of the published work. Of which the magical "El Flautista" (the flute player, I bet you!). since Molina did release a solo effort before this live record, I thought that these numbers were coming out of this one, but nothing from this work either... Quite strange.

Several songs will be very good ones, of which "Carnaval Sangriento" (bloody carnival) : one of the highlights. Very powerful intro featuring heavy keys and guitar combined with...flute of course. The guitar work here is really great. But this is a constant during this live set. Just like "Robin Hood". This song has definitely improved when you compare it with its studio counterpart from "Dos Años...". There will be even a melancholic one with nice text and, of course, the great fluting present on each song. So, if you like this instrument this album is for you.

I always have thought that a bit more flute in Tull albums would have been nice, so I am pleased with this one. Not that it holds great compositions (only several good ones), but they are very pleasantly rendered. Great rhythm (although the frenzy of their fantastic debut album is a bit gone). Most of it is just good hard-rock music with a vague prog touch (but only in the use of the flute).

Bearing this in mind, it is almost normal that I consider "El Flautista" as another highlight (but again this will be a short version) just like the very good "Trovador De Ciudad".

On the contrary "Qué Nadie..." is one of the very few weak songs : heavy, unpleasant, insipid. But since it is followed with "A Golpe De Látigo" it is OK. Well, actually only a very short part of this song is played which is a crime, really. It is one of their very good songs and since so few from their published repertoire are featured, I would have expected to get the full format.

The closing "Una Copa Por Un Viejo Amigo" holds the best guitar solo from this live set. Really impressive (even if the first half of the song is dull).

This album is for those of you who like the hardest part of Tull. It is not an incredible live album. Just a good one. Five out of ten ? Yes, probably. I will upgrade it to three stars. Do try "Ñu".

Our dear friend José Carlos Molina couldn' t go on like this. Two albums in a row with almost the same line-up ! In French there is a saying "jamais deux sans trois" (get your on-line translation tool for a sec). But he will revert to his frenzy and fully change the line-up once again for this release.

The title of this album does related to the last two years during which "Ñu" was almost wandering in the musical desert (hence "Dos Años De Destierro" - back to your translation tool again). Molina will also change from label to join Avispa. The star of this label at that time is the band "Medina Azahara".

On the very promotional night of this release, lots of problems occured : flooding Madrid, poor organization, very dark comments from Molina about his bandmates will just provoked the leaving of the member of the band and will almost lead Molina to quit the music industry. There is hardly any promotion for "Ñu" since all of the financial promotional ressources are used for "Medina".

These years will be the darkest ones of Molina's career. "Ñu" will end up as a cover band. But not a "Tull" one as it could have made a great sense. No, a Purple and a Led Zep one.

Ñu's previous release was their weakest one. Well, according my point of view of course.

All of their brilliance was gone : no disjointed song, no damned great hard-rock crazyness. Forgotten the fantastic "Tull" filiation (on their hard side as I have already testimonied in Ñu's earlier releases).

The opening number really gets back to their roots ("Cuentos de Ayer Y De Hoy" in 1978). Hard-rock with a progressive touch. "Ñu" is not reaching the climax of their debut album (which I rated with five star, so it is really worth a check guys) but it seems to me that the band just decided to get rockier. And I prefer this side of "Ñu".

At this time of their career, they have opted for a "harder" sound. You won't get all those FABULOUS prog moments you could get in their incredible debut release. Even if Molina plays some flute and that Enrique Valiño holds the violin, they will never be as significant as on their first album where those two prog instruments were much more on the front line.

This album is a hard-rocking one. Of course, I can cope with this, but this band had shown so much more diversity and creativity during their early days, than this one is just a good album. Since their leader (Molina) is the only one in command, most "Ñu" 's albums are more a one man's work than a band one.

Some AOR-ish sounds with "Arrasando Madrid". This is something I usually hate. I just can stand a few "Asia" ones (but not too many, actually). A boring rock ballad with "Estrella" ("Star") which is definitely not increasing the quality of this album.

Most of you might know that even if I can praise a band, I am absolutely NOT a blind fan. I guess that this is just due to my old age. I have the same attitude in other aspect of my daily life as well (sports for intance..).

Still, there is a wonderful song featured here. "Dama De Honor". The type of songs that should encline any proghead to watch out. Brilliant flute, fabulous guitar solo, great rhythm (to say the least). By far, the best song of this album.

This is just a standard "Ñu" album. Nothing really outstanding. I guess that two stars is just as much as it could deserve.

Remarkably enough, the line-up will amost be the same than on thier previous release ("No Hay Ningun Loco Completo"). There is even the return of a violonist. So, flute + violin + keyboards = prog ? Well not really...

The opening number is pure AOR music. I do not like this. From a hard-rock oriented music greatly influenced by Tull, with sublime flute play, "Ñu" will switch to a softer approach. Of course, there has been three years between this album and their last studio release. Maybe that this explains this change of orientation.

There will be some great numbers like "Manicomio" (asylum). This one sounds like of song of their good old days, although a lot quieter than most of their crazy songs. This one is almost folkish : so in this case : flute + violin = prog. A pleasant song, indeed. Like "Condenado A Vivir". A pop rock song mixing again a basic melody with a good rhythmic and flute. A bit too repetitive, maybe.

Another folk-rock composition with "Una Copa Por Un Viejo Amigo". I have to say that the almsot gospel mood of the chorus at the end of the song is quite boring. This is not the "Ñu" that I like. Gone the craziness, the wild ones. As if Molina became a more respectable character by now.

With such a title, no wonder that "Robin Hood" opens on such a pastoral mood. Filiation with Tull is of course easy to identify. But the melody is rather weak, and it turns out to be a bit syrupous. Too much to my taste.

This album is radically different than the previous Ñu ones. This change of direction is not for the best I'm afraid. Some good folk passages, some poor AOR, average rock songs ("Piratas Del Exito"). My global feeling is that this album really doesn't match Ñu's standards.

Only one outstanding number : the closing one "Cautivo Del Placer". Beautiful flute playing (but Molina is great in such excercise). The beat is again on the soft side but this song develops such an emotion during the violin solo...Truely brilliant. Powerful vocals as well will contribute to finally release one great song on this album. Which is not enough.

I quite liked "Ñu", but this is their weakest album so far. Two stars.

This is the first live album from this good Spanish band. Rather confidential outside of Spain, this band plays a strong hard-rock music. But the addition of some instruments like flute and violin gives them a special character.

Their leader, José Carlos Molina is apparently very difficult to live with. He almost changed the whole line-up of the band for each new album. It is the case again for this one. But several of his previous band mates will be invited for a guest appearence of which Jean-François André (violin in their early days), the great guitarist José María García and Enrique Ballesteros (drums). This was almost the line-up of their brilliant debut album "Cuentos de Ayer Y De Hoy".

After the release of their previous album, their leader even clashed with the executives of the record company and he broke "Ñu" 's contract. The album features several unrealeased track which seems a bit strange for a live album.

The first of them is "No Hay Ningún Loco" which is a fully Tullesque song. Great flute, powerful riff. While "Prometo Besar" is a softer one but not really catchy. It is sandwiched and lost between "No Hay" and "La Bailarina". The later is completely in the "Ñu" crazy standards. One has the impression to get a Spanish Tull while listening to this number. Really. This song is a highlight of this effort and I can only recommend you to have a listen to it. Impressive.

Vocals are somewhat theatrical and fully in Spanish. But what's more interesting is the flute. A short flute solo will introduce "El Flautista" (the flute player), which will feature another of these soli of course. But I won't complain since I like these usually very much. Another highlight.

"Nessa" is also unknown to me. It could have fit on their debut album. At times, the dynamite sound generated by this band is just phenomenal. A "Dream Theater" version with flute ! Great combination.

It is a bit of a pity that several tracks are just proposed here in a ridiculously short version like " Cuentos" or "Fuego".

Three songs from their last studio album are featured in the second half of this concert. But not the best numbers out of it. No "Romance Fantasma" for instance. Maybe too complicated to play it live. But we'll get a very good version of "Perseguido". These guys really know how to move an audience. Such great tempo almost throughout the whole cocert. Quite a challenge !

The next two songs are non-album ones. Some Oriental mood for "Los Ojos de la Zíngara" as well as some flamenco vocals. A bit too self-indulgent dear friend Molina ! Still, he is rather charismatic and the Spanish crowd really loves him.

The last songs are weaker. Average hard-rock "Se Quien", koraokee style with "Más Duro Que Nunca" and again this habit of shortening / changing songs like the closing number... But all in all it is a good live album. Still, it could have been a lot better.

If you would like to discover "Ñu", I can only recommend you their first album and their last one before this live effort : "Cuentos de Ayer Y De Hoy" and "Acorralado Por Ti". They deserve it.

Three stars.

Needless to say that the line-up has again completely changed for this release. Unlike referenced here, this album was not released in 1985, but in ...1994. Our dear friend Molina reverts to a simple quartet. One might think that the music will be fully hard-rock oriented, but actualy it is not the case.

This album is actually the folkiest one of the band. It is quite amazing that they will opt for this style at this time of their career. Now, with so many personal changes (Ñu should be featured in the Guness Book of Records for this), Molina should have been, once in a while, at least influenced by some of his colleagues.

This feeling is to be noticed during "La Danza de las Mil Tierras" (totally folkish, this one), "Danzarina Privada", and the closing number "Vivir en Deshonra" (beautiful and sweet intro).

Of course, some songs will have a hard-rock beat like "Cruz de Hierro" or the heavy "Hechiceros" (strongly "Sabbath" oriented). The second part of the album will be more faithfull to their hard-rocking style. But the craziness of the early days are gone. Songs are more polished, formatted.

When you listen to "Perro Ladrador" the Tull filiation is there (thanks to the good flute playing of course). A bit too heavy because otherwise it might well be one of the best songs of the album. "Vampirio & Amante" has also a lot of similarities with Ian & Friends.

At times we'll get some great instrumental moments like in "Viejo Lobo de Mar". Somptuous guitar solo, great percussion work and good fluting again.

This album is not bad but it does not stand out. No poor tracks, but the whole sounds avearge.It will be well received in Spain (but Ñu is popular in their home country). A sober album. Three live tracks to close the album. But we are far from the mood of their live album : "No Hay Ningun Loco Completo".

Since I have been rather gentle with the band so far, I will rate this with two stars (five out of ten if it would b possible).