ITOIZ

It seems that the death of Franco and the establishment of a democracy in Spain also unleashed some pent up progressive rock, such that the golden age for Basque prog was the late 1970s. This 1978 debut by Itoiz is one of the best places to start your Basque prog collection.

This is delicate and sumptuous folk rock with many progressive aspects. The longing melodies, plaintive vocals, and versatile organ consistently distinguish themselves. The album opens very strongly with "Phuntzionariat" which is a bit atypical, being more classically proto progressive a la Procol Harum or Beggars Opera. While most people seem to point to the longest track "Goizeko Deiadar" as the best, I actually think that its at times cacophonous nature just does not fit with the generally pastoral mood of the album, although the band does really cook here.

My favourite songs are the two "Hiltzori", the first with its insistent flute/guitar interchanges over syncopated drums, and the second with its mysterious organ motifs, wrapping up with a reprise of the theme of the first. "Foisis Jauna" is another great one, especially the fuzzy guitar in the break. The closer "Astelehen Urdin Batean" brings us back to the laid back style and sounds more Latin in a jazzy way than most of what is here. It provides a fitting end to a mostly mellow classic.