CANÇONS DE CASA - SONS DE CARRER

L Herba D Hameli's second album raises the eyebrows.

The rather cheesy opening seconds of this album gave me a fright. But I did not have to worry because this band soon kicks into gear again. Although not as jazzy and all over the place as on their debut album, this album is by no means a traditional folk rock or even a prog folk album. The main reason for this untraditional slab of music on this album is that it is based on traditional Katalan folk music. A music scene with none or little international exposure. Not at least here in Scotland. When that is said, I am sure that a live performance from this band would had gone down like a storm on one of the many folk rock festivals here in Scotland.

L Herba D Hameli also mix in some rock music like Jethro Tull did on their folk rock albums. But L Herba D Hameli use mandolin and to lesser degree flutes where Jethro Tull just drenches their music in Ian Anderson's flutes. L Herba D Hameli also adds more layers to their music than other folk rock bands does. I guess the good use of jazz structures explains why their music is so multi faceted. In this respect, they reminds me about Flairck. A semi-electric version of Flairck, that is.

The songs are superb throughout. I feel this album is more one-dimensional and more focused on folk rock than the debut album. But the songs are still superb on this album. This is also music you can dance to because it is quite infectious groovy. The best song of the album La dansa de la mort is a good example. The vocals are superb and so is the instrumentation. This album is a free download too and one of the best prog folk albums I have ever heard. This album is an excellent, although free, addition to anyone's record collection as far as I am concerned.

4 stars

Next album by L' Herba d'Hameli comes out in 2004, in the meantime the band had added two new members in the formation, violinist Jordi Marquillas and keyboardist Carles Pinos.The album was titled ''Cancons de casa - Sons de carrer'' and contained mostly rearrangements of traditional Catalan songs.

This was definitely a step forward for the band, their style now was more atmospheric, convincing and eventually attractive, propably the selection of these old folky tunes had something to do with this, but again the tracks were now arranged for a Rock band and you need some talent to come up with a decent result.And the result here is absolutely satisfying, less emphatic on the vocal parts and basically leaning towards instrumental variety, featuring heavy use of flute and the new entry of violin creating some beautiful melancholic tunes.Additionally the presence of Pinos has made only good to the band's music with his intelligent synth flashes and occasional organ lines.The music can be either rhythmic with plenty of flute and electric guitars or more intricate, full of good instrumental interactions between violin, flute and keyboards.Some of the material is even amazing like the Heavy/Folk Rock edge of ''L'Hereu Riera (romanc)'' with the angular guitar/flute work and the breaks into Medieval ages with the violin and harsichord in evidence or the irritating ''Sons de carrer'' with the psychedelic flute parts, the sweet organ and piano work and the following delicacy of the electric guitar/flute interplays.

Quite great definition of what Prog Folk means.Nice little pearl of the genre, based on old Catalan tunes and containing some fiery instrumental work.Recommended.