NOSOTROS

Have spent several years searching for this rare album, I even asked a friend who lives in Madrid to search for it, but it was futile, it's pretty rare even in Spain, so I left the search hoping that one day I would find it in a casual way. A couple weeks ago went to visit some friends from the radio and mentioned it as a lost cause, the owner of the house (former DJ) went to his room and returned with a vinyl copy of ABEDUL and gave it to me as a gift, not before telling me that if I expected something remotely as good as TRIANA, I would be disappointed.

Returned to my house a bit late, so went to sleep and next morning placed the album, even when I was not expecting something in the style or with the quality of TRIANA, was totally disappointed, the album is some sort of fusion between light Electronic, Disco Music (remember that the album was released in 1979) and Hard Rock with a slight touch of Symphonic.

I always imagined myself writing a long review of the album, but it's useless, I don't know where to start, even when I'm sure I can't write a very detailed review as I usually do (being that there are very little details to mention), still it's hard to find a decent song, the album is very poor and I don't understand why it was added and how I managed to write a biography a couple years ago.

The opener "Flash" is somehow close to Prog, they start with an electronic intro that reminds of Dark Side of the Moon, but as they get speed and the drums join, it sounds more like a PINK FLOYD Mix done for "Studio 54" back in 1980. The keyboards are pure Disco, the drums keep the dance rhythm, in other words, after a promising introduction it's time to get your white suit and black shirt.

But about the middle it gets better, because José L. Perez knows how to rock with the guitar and Albert Aranega begins to play the keys in a style that resembles the lighter side of ALAN PRSONS PROJECT.

"Ultimos Momentos" is worst, because when the vocals are added it sounds like bland Disco, so won't waste the time of the readers. "Walking" is not Prog, but at least is good Rock, I can't believe they have the same keyboardist, because the guy really adds a lot of class with the Hammond, when they reach the middle, they start to jump from Disco to Hard Rock, a decent track.

"Sobre Fuego" starts with a keyboard intro "A la Emerson" but when the clapping and drums join, they start to play some sort of light Rock with little interest, not bad but anodyne. The next track is "The Monster and the Butterfly", from the start we have a problem, Narcis Baiges accent is simply a disaster, the music is not bad, a soft but a non transcendental ballad with a few changes and a funky side.

"Impresión" is supposed to be the strongest song, but not much to talk about either, starts between spacey and Ambient oriented, but soon the sound changes to some sort of soft Latin Jazz with more Ambient interruptions (Even bird's chirping), the vocals are horrendous and each time they gain speed, the sound gets closer to Disco, as the following track "Renacer de la Aurora".

Well at least the closer "84 HDG" is a decent Prog track with interesting keyboard and drums, very pompous, but after the light POP I heard before it's a relief, not enough to save the album but at least rises my rating to 2 stars.

It's a pity that this band so promoted doesn't remotely reach the level of so many outstanding Spanish bands like TRIANA, MEDINA AZAHARA or ALAMEDA, but that's not the reason of the low rating, I gave two stars because the sound not only is not Prog mainly, but mostly unimaginative mainstream (There's excellent mainstream music, but this is not the case).

Originally released on vinyl in 1979, a cd version of this recording is indeed very hard to find. After finally managing to get hold of a copy I wondered why I had bothered. This is a weak effort in comparison to some of the wonderful albums that were released by other Spanish bands in the late 1970's. Released on the Japanese Tachiko label and taken from the vinyl, the dreaded ''phut'' sound of scratches can be heard in the left channel midway through the last track! As to the music itself, the album consists of six songs and two instrumentals. Lead instruments are guitar and the usual array of analogue keyboards. However, the entire first half of the album consists of inferior tracks dominated by disco and funk grooves. Definitely not my cup of tea.

First up is Flash, an instrumental that begins with some synth noodling; this sounds decidedly like On The Run from Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon. Unfortunately this is almost immediately discarded in favour of a tedious funk jam that lasts for over 5 minutes, though it seems more like 10 minutes. Not good. Ultimos Momentos also has a disco groove and some really cheesy synth. Vocals are ok, but the drummer sounds like a kid playing with a new toy as the hi-hat pedal is going all through this song. Track 3, Walking, is quite dreadful and sounds like a song by a second-rate New Wave band. Sobre Fuego starts with some nice Hammond, before heading quickly into disco terrain again. All these tracks are basic verse- chorus affairs and this album could be a candidate for a one star rating. Fortunately things pick up on the second half of the album, but only a little.

The Monster And The Butterfly has a decent melody, starts in laid-back mode and progresses through some different sections and tempo changes. However it is ruined by some truly awful English language vocals. On the other vocal tracks Narcis Baiges sings in Spanish and he sounds so much better when singing in the vernacular. Track 6, Impresion, is the best and most symphonic track on the album. The mood is bucolic with birdsong in the background, and the song features good vocals alongside synth and guitar interplay. Very nice, but even this track has some of those dreadful disco interludes and hi-hat hisses. Renacer De La Aurora resorts to the usual funk groove, but includes a nice slow-paced closing section. The second instrumental, HDG, closes the album. It's a short piece and consists of guitar and keys playing a fairly pleasant riff in unison.

Nosotros is a very disappointing album and I cannot recommend it, not even to fans of Spanish prog. In truth there are very few prog moments on the album and it only rates a maximum of 2 stars. If you are looking for some jazz-spirited Spanish symphonic prog then I suggest you try Escenes by Gotic.

Abedul is one of the forgotten and very rare bands coming from Spain in late '70's. It took , to tell the truth almost 4 years to find this album, last year in octomber it was in my hands. So, what we have here a mix of symphonic moments and some very almost discoteque sound melted with some hard rock moments in places. I like it at first listning, very uptempo in some parts and aswell a a lot of instrumental passages remind me in places of ZZTop, same drumming and same attitude, only the genre is diffrent. Is not an extrordinary album, but worth some spind from time to time. The vocal arts are ok, nothing over the top but ok, the instrumental passages are the cherry on th cake here, pieces like Ultimos momentos or Renacer de la Aurora. I will give 3 stars, a good one in my opinion, even is unnoticed and damn hard to find, this band and album desearve at least a propper consideration from time to time. Almost gone into oblivion Abedul manage to pull some reviews here and there, and that is a good thing, because like that the band will find new listners from younger generation. 3 star, good but totaly non essential.

3.5 stars, actually

I was surprised to overlook this originally when investigating Spanish prog bands. The obviously low - though unwarranted - rating had me miss this. But it's much better than many here getting 3+ and 4 star ratings.

Highlighting several songs

Flash (4 stars) - All instrumental. Starts with synth, maybe Moog, which continues as the full band comes in (sort of like Rainbow's Tarot Woman"). Uptempo and fun, it's got an exciting vibe to it. As the jam continues, it goes from some tasty guitar solos back to the synth work. Fades out with the lively synth pattern.

Sobre Feugo (3.5 stars) - Also fairly uptempo and energetic, with notable Spanish singing (better than most bands). Good groove to it, hot guitar soloing. Keyboards more along the lines of organ.

Impresin (3.5 stars) - Quieter and visual start, before kicking in with a lively disco beat, and then easing back into the calmer colorful section this time with singing. Quite different song than the other two above. Middle section back to uptempo part. Has bird sounds off and on in the song, which I think were done with synth. Has bluesy, emotional heavy guitar solo. Ends with yet another different part.

84 HDG (3.5 stars) - Instrumental, anthemic melody, almost royal or regal.