ALKOLEA
Itoiz
•Prog Folk
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Studio Album, released in 1982 Songs / Tracks Listing 1. Beheko Plaza (3:03) - Juan Carlos Pérez / mandolin, guitar, vocals
Artwork: David Abajo and to Quinino for the last updates Edit this entry |
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ITOIZ Alkolea ratings distribution
(25 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(16%)
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(36%)
Good, but non-essential (40%)
Collectors/fans only (8%)
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
ITOIZ Alkolea reviews
Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings
Collaborators/Experts Reviews
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog Folk

After a great opener, the album gets in the thick of things with the absolute stunner 8-min+ Hire Bideak (happy trails), where the level of Ezekiel is easily duplicated, drawing chills down your spine. Coupled with Errotaberri, the first side of the album is enchanting, almost fascinating and near perfect, the other two tracks although not as flashy, being of a good folk calibre.
Unfortunately the rockier Lanbrora ruins a bit the delicate progress of the album, with an almost country rock feel. Not any better is the ill-advised Marilyn track, which falls a bit like a fly in your soup. Luckily the album is saved by the closing tracks, which return to the standard of what we expect from Itoiz. Both Herri Neurak (popular streets) and Eroa Nazan (going crazy) will take you back towards the debut album. In some ways, a good part of the tracks of the album could sound like the better classic Supertramp songs sung by Rick Davies. The short closer is another candy for the proghead.
While obviously not as perfect as the unreachable Ezekiel, had alkolea done away with two bad tracks and replaced them with more typical songs of theirs, this album would probably be better than the debut also. Due to its exceptional quality (in regards to its late release date of 82), this album is very much worth the investment. Start with Ezekiel, though.
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog-Folk Team

The delicate balance of consistently strong material broken, "Alkolea" has a few other significant problems, like the runaway "Hire Bideak" which further acts against any cohesion even if it shows some potential and hot playing. Both "Lanbrora" and "Marilyn" are relatively dull tracks that are the not the equal of anything on "Ezekiel", reminding me at turns of James Taylor or Janis Joplin. The disappearance of female vocals, the harsher and overdone lead guitars, and the general lack of textural quality make "Alkolea" a disappointment.
To be fair, "Errotaberri" and "Eroa Nazan" are both top shelf. Here the melodies and lyricism are sparkling, and seem to blend the best of both of the previous two albums. "Errotaberri" is enhanced by string like keys and here the lead guitars and saxes suit the music much better. The bass and organs on "Eroa Nazan" play to the group's strengths.
While "Ezekiel" seems to sparkle whenever unleashed, "Alkolea" actually sounds like a much less talented and focused sibling, and seems the worse for wear. Without the unbroken string of fine songs working together as one, this is just a very uneven collection. 2.5 stars, rounded down.
COLLABORATOR Errors & Omissions Team

I always say that, and maybe sometimes I sound too boring and repetitive. But I really wished that more bands were using this kind of sound production during the 80's. Some albums weren't that bad, but production usually killed most of them.
Alkolea (1982) is a hell of an album with many interesting bits to make you feel full and content.
There's a 2009 CD edition that you can still find a copy!
Latest members reviews
Well, I'll try to write English. This band from the Basque Country has become a
cult-band in its country. The progressive-folk influences of the two first albums
(Itoiz and Ezekiel) begin to turn into pop, but the mix between them is clever. Songs
like "Hire bideak" sound like prog-rock, while "H
... (read more)
Report this review (#40365) | Posted by | Tuesday, July 26, 2005 | Review Permanlink
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