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Review:
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In the late Seventies I discovered the exciting sound
of early Triana, from that moment I started my quest for
Rock Andaluz bands. During the years I bought the albums
of Cai, Azahar, Alameda, Medina Azahara, Mezquita and musical
projects like Rock Encounter With Joe Beck by flamenco guitar
legend Sabicas and Picasso Portraits by the known flamenco
guitarplayer Juan Martin. A few weeks ago I was ‘Googling’
Rock Andaluz and stumbled upon the name Taifa, I got very
excited when I read the description of Taifa’s progressive
blend of several styles (including flamenco) on their second
CD entitled Alhambra (2008).
The prime mover of this promising new Spanish progrock
band is Luis Massot (vocals, bass and ‘laud’). In the late
Eighties and early Nineties he was a member of Elikat (described
as ‘melodic metal’ and ‘neo classical hardrock’), this band
released a demo (1987), an EP entitled Caught In Love (1989)
and the album Electrikat (1991). Then he joined Mr. Cheese
in London where the idea to blend rock and an ethnic Spanish
sound resulted in the foundation of a new group named Ziryab.
A few months later and after many concerts, the band was
signed under the new name Taifa by the Spanish label Avispa
Records that also hosts the popular Spanish Rock Andaluz
band Medina Azahara. Their singer Manuel Martinez produced
the first Taifa album Más Allá Del Sur in 1999. The self-produced
video clip Guitarra- Espejo De Mi Alma was warmly received
by the media and the public. Then Taifa did numerous gigs
in Mallorca, Andalusia and the rest of Spain and they joined
the Al-Lama festival in Oued Laou (Tetuan-Morocco). In 2004
the demo CD Fe (3 tracks) was released, four years later
followed by the second album entitled Alhambra. The trio
Taifa recorded it in Mallorca, Andalusia and Morocco and
invited guest musicians with different musical and cultural
backgrounds who used a wide range of ethnic instruments.
Taifa also released a video clip entitled Las Torres De
Babel, filmed in the north of Morocco, you can watch it
on the Taifa website, to me it looks very professional.
On the new album Alhambra (10 songs, 42 minutes) Taifa
is scouting the borders between heavy metal, Rock Andaluz
and ethnic music. Although at some moments the climates
are a bit similar, in general Taifa their music sounds as
an exciting musical encounter of two different worlds: metal
featuring a thunderous rhythm-section, heavy guitar riffs
and blistering and biting guitar solos with spectacular
use of the wah-wah pedal and the art of the flamenco with
sparkling guitar runs (reminding me of Vicente Amigo his
splendid work on Medina Azahara their album En El-Hakim),
expressive vocals with that typical wailing undertone (to
me often evoking Medina Azahara and in the more mellow parts
Alameda) and some palmas and cajon. An extra dimension in
Taifa their progressive musical stew is the use of keyboards,
samples and ethnic instruments like the Andalusian violin.
This instrument turns out to be a wonderful combination
with the flamenco guitar and a great contrast with the heavy
metal guitar and powerful drums in many songs. And I love
the captivating duel between the violin and a fiery electric
guitar in Mendigos De Una Ilusión. I am also very pleased
with the sultry sound of the laud (a 12-string Spanish lute)
in the intro of the song Fe. My highlights are the tracks
Nunca Es Tarde (from mellow with warm vocals and tender
piano to compelling with heavy guitarwork), La Casa Del
Olvido (sensational blend of heavy metal climates and the
sound of the flamenco guitar and violin) and Por Un Trocito
De Cielo (to me it sounds like “Alameda meets Metallica”
with emotional vocal parts).
If you are up to heavy metal atmospheres and a strong
touch of flamenco with emotional Spanish vocals (often in
the vein of Medina Azahara’s singer Manual Martinez), this
adventurous progressive music will appeal to you. I am very
curious to the development of this promising new Spanish
formation, a big hand for Taifa!
www.progwalhalla.com
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