NO HAY NINGUN LOCO

This is the first live album from this good Spanish band. Rather confidential outside of Spain, this band plays a strong hard-rock music. But the addition of some instruments like flute and violin gives them a special character.

Their leader, José Carlos Molina is apparently very difficult to live with. He almost changed the whole line-up of the band for each new album. It is the case again for this one. But several of his previous band mates will be invited for a guest appearence of which Jean-François André (violin in their early days), the great guitarist José María García and Enrique Ballesteros (drums). This was almost the line-up of their brilliant debut album "Cuentos de Ayer Y De Hoy".

After the release of their previous album, their leader even clashed with the executives of the record company and he broke "Ñu" 's contract. The album features several unrealeased track which seems a bit strange for a live album.

The first of them is "No Hay Ningún Loco" which is a fully Tullesque song. Great flute, powerful riff. While "Prometo Besar" is a softer one but not really catchy. It is sandwiched and lost between "No Hay" and "La Bailarina". The later is completely in the "Ñu" crazy standards. One has the impression to get a Spanish Tull while listening to this number. Really. This song is a highlight of this effort and I can only recommend you to have a listen to it. Impressive.

Vocals are somewhat theatrical and fully in Spanish. But what's more interesting is the flute. A short flute solo will introduce "El Flautista" (the flute player), which will feature another of these soli of course. But I won't complain since I like these usually very much. Another highlight.

"Nessa" is also unknown to me. It could have fit on their debut album. At times, the dynamite sound generated by this band is just phenomenal. A "Dream Theater" version with flute ! Great combination.

It is a bit of a pity that several tracks are just proposed here in a ridiculously short version like " Cuentos" or "Fuego".

Three songs from their last studio album are featured in the second half of this concert. But not the best numbers out of it. No "Romance Fantasma" for instance. Maybe too complicated to play it live. But we'll get a very good version of "Perseguido". These guys really know how to move an audience. Such great tempo almost throughout the whole cocert. Quite a challenge !

The next two songs are non-album ones. Some Oriental mood for "Los Ojos de la Zíngara" as well as some flamenco vocals. A bit too self-indulgent dear friend Molina ! Still, he is rather charismatic and the Spanish crowd really loves him.

The last songs are weaker. Average hard-rock "Se Quien", koraokee style with "Más Duro Que Nunca" and again this habit of shortening / changing songs like the closing number... But all in all it is a good live album. Still, it could have been a lot better.

If you would like to discover "Ñu", I can only recommend you their first album and their last one before this live effort : "Cuentos de Ayer Y De Hoy" and "Acorralado Por Ti". They deserve it.

Three stars.