Search - Triana :: Latin Essentials

Vale la pena

Seeker | Mt. Horeb, WI United States | 03/28/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I haven't heard all the tracks on this CD, but Abre la Puerta and En el Lago are rare jewels. Triana was a seventies band from southern Spain (Andalucia) that specialized in flamenco-influenced rock. Other similar groups from this time and place include Alameda, Cai, and Iman, but Triana was the best of the bunch. Triana also shows some progressive-rock influences in the usage of synthesizer here and there, but most of it has a guitar vibe (both acoustic and electric). The vocals may seem a little raw upon first listen (though not nearly as raw as true flamenco singing). I think the history of Andalucia lends an almost palpable sense of sadness to much of its music. En el Lago has this very sad sound, which feels like longing for what's no longer attainable. Abre la Puerta is Triana's signature piece, with some very sensual lyrics, depending on your interpretation (abre la puerta nina, el dia va a comenzar/open the door girl, the day's about to begin). Those two songs get five stars; the rest is likely to be uneven like most of Triana's output."