Arcabuz is a Catalan band formed in 1978 and disbanded in 1979, reforming in 2012. The original band members decided over 30 years later to release the band’s debut album. Entitled “Origenes,” it was released on February 06, 2024 via 5 Lunas Producciones and contains 7 lengthy tracks in the style of Spanish bands from the 70s. The album opens with “Confrontaciones Dolorosas,” the shortest track in duration, still exceeding five minutes. A pompous organ sound and solid, elaborate drumming open the track, intertwining with guitar riffs and a frenetic bassline. The guitar is the protagonist of the first part with solo inserts, while the song develops between continuous tempo changes and interesting phrasing between bass and drums. In an intense succession of solo phrasings featuring all the instruments, the track immediately immerses us in the band’s Prog sound. A dreamy atmospheric intro opens “La Setrilleira,” with a backround of keyboards and guitar work, first solo and then arpeggios. With the entry of the rhythm section, the song develops a sound that takes us back in time to the late 70s and those Andalusian bands that made the Spanish scene great. Here too, the instrumental parts allow the song to develop over the entire duration with prolonged solo inserts of keyboards first and then guitar. With a series of well-constructed tempo changes, the band pleasantly accompanies us to the track’s finale. “MĂșsica DespuĂ©s de la Vida” has an even more pronounced imprint than those sounds proposed by bands such as Triana or Medina Azahara. Rhythmics in odd times and a deep, load-bearing bass line allow melodies to develop and a prolonged solo in the first part. The tempo changes are an added value to the sound of this track with quality cues and ideas, beautifully composed and executed melodies. Here again the band manages to bring the atmosphere of the era into a modern context, truly an intense track. A melancholic organ intro opens “Al final de una Larga Espera,” characterised by a softer first part with keyboards as protagonists. In the middle part with a tempo change the rhythm section accelerates and throughout the second section of the song the sound is developed with a musical crescendo. Exploring harder sonorities, the guitar accompanies us with a sharp solo until the finale. The longer track “Geisha” shows the Arab influences in the sound of this band, a characteristic that has affected several Spanish artists. The rhythm is solid and elaborate, while the melodies once again are well constructed and allow all the musicians to express their technique. Involving and full of solo cues and interesting ideas, it offers a brief drum solo, then returns to the initial theme of the song and through the intertwining of guitar and keyboard takes us to the finale. “Raptus Emocional” is a softer track in the first part, still imbued with that retro flavour and a modern touch. The melodies are harmonious, with Symphonic traits mingling with the Spanish Rock sound, to be enriched by tempo changes and good guitar and keyboard breakdowns. The evolving structure and the evolution of the song’s central theme make the second part interesting and engaging. The album ends with “MelomanĂa en re (Tributo a un Reencuentro),” tracing the sounds of the previous one with a dreamy arpeggio in the opening. The intensity increases as the minutes go by and the track evolves, with solid guitar inserts, tempo changes and that unique touch that only Spanish bands give to the sound. Percussion joins the rhythm section and together with the guitar in a prolonged solo they accompany us towards the end of this good album. A band that makes us travel through time with this debut album released more than 40 years after the band’s formation. The sounds are those that characterised Spanish bands of the late 70s such as Mezquita, Iman, Triana or Median Azahara. Entirely instrumental, it offers an enjoyable tracklist from start to finish, a recommended listen for all lovers of Andalusian Progressive Rock sounds in the style of bands of the past but with a fresh and modern touch.
Tracklist
01. Confrontaciones Dolorosas (5:25)
02. La Setrilleira (6:55)
03. MĂșsica DespuĂ©s de la Vida (7:13)
04. Al final de una Larga Espera (6:02)
05. Geisha (10:21)
06. Raptus Emocional (6:52)
07. MelomanĂa en re (Tributo a un Reencuentro) (8:39)
Lineup
Carlos LĂłpez / Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Mandolin, Irish Bouzouki
Julio Francisco Ălvaro / Keyboards
José Luis López / Bass
Aurelio Ortega / Drums
