Triana - 1977 - Hijos Del Agobio

Triana 

1977 

Hijos Del Agobio

01. Hijos Del Agobio (5:18)
02. Rumor (3:20)
03. Sentimiento De Amor (5:32)
04. Recuerdos De Triana (2:50)
05. Ya Esta Bien (3:12)
06. Necesito (4:04)
07. Sr. Troncoso (3:28)
08. Del Crepusculo Lento Nacera El Rocio (5:50)

- Jesús De La Rosa / vocals, keyboards, guitar (7)
- Eduardo Rodríguez Rodway / guitar, vocals (1,7,8)
- Juan José Palacios / percussion, Fx, Moog (4)

With:

- Miguel Angel Iglesias / vocals (4)
- Antonio Pérez / electric guitar
- Manolo Rosa / bass, Spanish guitar (8)
- Enrique Carmona / guitar (intro 8)

Suitably for its unusual cover art, Hijos del Agobio is a more mysterious and less inviting release than Triana's debut (El Patio). The intervening time had been a dramatic era for Spain, with the death of Franco in 1975 beginning a gradual transition to democracy which would lead to elections a few months after this album's release, and with more directly political songs Triana here flex their wings and see just how far they can take their newfound freedom. The progressive side of their sound remains intact thanks to the keyboard contributions of Juna José Palacios and the album's combination of serious and then-timely subject matter and continued musical development makes it a worthy successor to El Patio.

After a very personal debut album, this very good Spanish band just went on with their great symphonic music.

When you listen to the title and opening track, these words come to my mind: gigantic, wonderful, fabulous. A truly symphonic and passionate song which is full of sweetness and bombastic music at the same time. It is a highlight of course.

The flamenco feeling is much less present than in their debut. Even if Eduardo Rodriguez is still in charge, he is playing electric guitar on this album. He was responsible for all the flamenco guitar parts on "El Patio" and these are almost absent on these "Hijos.".

Still the Andalusia passion is fully felt during the great "Sentimiento De Amor (love feeling)". It is a jewel of passionate vocals, superb keyboards and some flamenco music. It is such a rare mix (actually never matched), such inventive. "Triana" is really a band that should need much more exposure on such a site. This song is the second highlight from "Hijos".

The quality of the album drops after this excellent first half. It sounds less symphonic and is closer to their debut which was much more Flamenco oriented. "Triana" reverts to some more bombastic feeling with the closing number "Del Crespúsculo Lento Nacerá El Rocío". Song writing is more complex and ranges from acoustic and tranquil guitar to the most furious electric ones; vocals are also more in the flamenco style. This is another highlight from this very good album.