HIJOS DEL AGOBIO

As much as I like the very impressive Triana's debut 'El Patio', I must say that their second album 'Hijos del Agobio' is my personal fav. Following in the same passionate flamenco-tinged PF/early KC-like symphonic prog, the group's overall sound feels more focused and cohesive, and the performances feel tighter and more precise. In fact, the word that I would use for this case is maturity. The bombastic title track opens the album with a melancholy and, at the same time optimistic view of a Spain free from Franco's military dictatorship; then comes 'Rumor', their legendary first hit single, which continues exploring the social feeling of a free country, this time with a more deccive optimism. Let's keep in mind that in 1977, most people were waiting for the Constitution to be officially validated - some impatience was generated beside the feelings of hope and liberation, and it's precisely impatience the message of the lyrics in '¡Ya está Bien!' (something like Come on!, enough!) - De la Rosa's ability to create songs that are catchy and representative of a generation's concerns is well reflected in all these tracks. The rest of the sung material is more focused on introspective matters (lost love in 'Sentimiento de Amor', mid-life crisis in tracks 6 and 8, a humanistic portrait of an alcoholic in 'Sr. Troncoso', the most acoutic piece in the album). 'Recuerdos de Triana' - written and performed by drummer/percussionist Palacios, who also plays some psych effects on Moog synthesizer - is a peculiar tribute to Ummagumma-era PF from the Flamenco point of view, with a tribal twist. 'Del Crepusculo Lento...' returns to the bombast of the opening title, with an almost magical display of eerie guitar solos and storming synth pyrotechnics: this piece written by Rodriguez serves as a stunning conclusion for a genuine prog gem. A must for any prog collector who feels specially connected with Southern Spain's peculiar sensibility.