QUIERO CONTARTE

This 3-CD box set was released in 2008, then added to Prog Archives but never reviewed so time now for the legendary trio that speerheaded the Rock Andaluz movement, from Cai, Alameda, Quadalquivir and Mezquita to Medina Azahara, Sherish, Taifa and Qamar, to name a few.

The first two CD's feature tracks from their 6 studio-albums, spanning the time between 1975 and 1983. In 1983 keyboard player and singer Jesus De La Rosa died in a car accident, then Triana disbanded. By the way, in 1996 drummer Juan José Palacios re-founded Triana with new musicians and recorded 2 albums (in 1996 and 1998), when he died the other musicians continued and released also 2 albums (in 2007 and 2018). From this Triana post-1983 era you will find no tracks on this 3-CD box.

Most of the 24 tracks on CD-1 and CD-2 are taken from their first 3 albums, these songs are the most interesting and captivating, because since album #4 entitled Un Encuentro the music turned from Rock Andaluz into melodic rock with flamenco hints, pretty polished, but also a huge commercial success, Triana albums sold each between 50.000 and 100.000 copies!

Most of the 1975-1979 compositions contain beautiful shifting climates with typical flamenco elements like palmas (handclapping), rasgueado (quick downward strikes across all strings) and picados (quick runs on the guitar with two fingers), along tasteful keyboards (organ, synthesizers, Mellotron, string-ensemble and piano) and moving electric guitar play.

Wonderful examples are:

En El Lago : Beautiful interplay between the flamenco - and electric guitar, in the end a sumptuous conclusion with rasgueado, organ and electric guitar, goose bumps, wow!

Recuerdos De Una Noche : Powerful drums and howling and biting electric guitar runs.

My favorite Rock Andaluz composition is Abre La Puerta (close to 10 minutes), from the 1975 debut LP El Patio. It starts with Mellotron choirs, piano and flamenco guitar (tremolo-technique). Then the typical sensitive and virtuosic flamenco guitar blends with piano and soft synthesizer chords. A fluent and tight rhythm-section carries the music to a powerful acceleration with the typical flamenco vocals, expressive and a bit wailing. The rest of this song contains lots of shifting moods that range from mellow with flamenco guitar and choir-Mellotron to propulsive with powerful drums and howling electric guitar, very moving.

CD-3 is an impressive tribute to Triana by various artists and bands, from other Rock Andaluz legend Medina Azahara to Nuevo Flamenco band Ketama and a wide range of known Spanish singers and musicians.

My highlights.

Rumor by Alameda is a powerful version, embellished with Pepe Roca his awesome voice, perhaps the best in Rock Andaluz.

Desnuda La Mañana by Joaquin Sabina features pleasant organ, fiery guitar and strong vocals.

En El Lago by Ketama delivers wonderful flamenco guitar by master Pepe Habichuela, in a jazzy atmosphere with passionate vocals.

Quiero Contarte by Cristina Del Valle featuring Hevia Y Dorantes presents a variety of instruments, from bagpipes and violin to a swinging piano solo, topped with beautiful female vocals.

Alba lluminosa (Luminosa Mañana) features the legendary singer Lluis Llach, he is one of the main representatives of the socalled Nova Cançó (New Song), a movement of musicians, and singers who defied Francisco Franco's dictatorship by singing political songs in Catalan during a time where the language, and all other cultural manifestations of Catalan identity, were opposed by the regime. This compelling track delivers intense vocals and heavy guitar solo.

Una Noche De Amor Desesperada by El Barrio with intense bluesy guitar, organ and piano, and melancholical vocals, in the atmosphere of the emotional title.

Abre La Puerta by Medina Azahara with harder-edged guitar, what an inspired tribute, and this Rock Andaluz legend is still active, since 1979!

Hasta Volver by Carlos Chaouen with Zaguán (known as the second coming of Triana) featuring inspired vocals, and halfway wah-wah drenched guitar solo.

MUCHAS ALEGRIAS!