Browse by Artist: LOS CANARIOS

Artist:	LOS CANARIOS
Title:	Todas Sus Grabaciones 1967-1972
Label:	RAMALAMA MUSIC (SPAIN)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$30.00
Catalog #:	RO 54602CD

"It's said in Spain that this is the most anticipated CD release since the CD format was invented. Los Canarios, well-known internationally for their Ciclos double album, also had a brilliant past before recording that prog monster, a f*cking brilliant past! Here's their complete recordings 1967-1972 for your pleasure. Powerful soul-rock bombs such as 'Get on your knees', 'Three-two-one-Ah!' or 'Trying so hard', the mod fave 'Peppermint Frappe', some relaxed soulish stuff, some pre-prog, this release also includes some unreleased stuff! All carefully remastered and has a booklet with info (unfortunately only in Spanish). For some mysterious reason it's been impossible to reissue those recordings until today, and they're some of the most important recordings in Spanish popular music."

Artist:	LOS CANARIOS
Title:	Ciclos
Label:	VINILISSSIMO (SPAIN)
Format:	2LP
Price:	$47.50
Catalog #:	MRSSS 009LP

2LP release. The pinnacle of Spanish prog rock, Ciclos was also the farewell record by Los Canarios, a group founded by Teddy Bautista. Released in 1974, it's an astounding conceptual album based on Vivaldi's The Four Seasons and incorporates synthesizers, mellotrons, vibraphone, electric guitars, a soprano and a classical choir. Regarded as the greatest Spanish soul band, Los Canarios emerged in 1967 and are still remembered for explosive tracks such as "Get On Your Knees" and "Free Yourself." But Los Canarios had an unusual final incarnation, in a progressive rock style. Towards 1973, the musical and philosophical interests of singer Teddy Bautista led him to breaking up with his bandmates, who continued under the name Alcatraz. Teddy reformed the band with an international formation: drummer Alain Richard, keyboard player Mathias Sanvellian, bassist Christian Mellies and guitarist Antonio García de Diego. Only Bautista's charisma can fully explain Ciclos, possibly the most complex production of 1970s Spanish rock. If it sounds astonishing today, in 1974 it went against all market trends: at the time, singer-songwriters such as Joan Manuel Serrat, Patxi Andión and Lluis Llach were successful. Spanish rock had no presence in the charts and was reduced to a clandestine underground. Alfredo Carrión directed the choir from the National School of Singing, and Rudmini Sukmawati, daughter of the legendary Indonesian President Sukarno, shines as an opera singer on this record. Ciclos is usually described as the symphonic rock version of The Four Seasons, which puts it close to Pictures At An Exhibition by Emerson, Lake & Palmer, but that's not quite right: Vivaldi's compositions are integrated into an immense canvas which includes rock, jazz, soul and old popular songs. Keyboards play a fundamental role, although this is a narrative work where a multitude of voices tell the story. The plot is difficult to summarize: it aims to portray the history of humanity, from the Big Bang to the Apocalypse, through the adventures of a character named Embryo. Explanatory texts were provided within the luxurious packaging, including a contribution from Teo Escamilla, the great photography director of Spanish cinema. Includes the original 1974 artwork and a 20-page booklet. 180 gram vinyl 2LP, pressed in a limited edition of 500 copies and housed in a gatefold sleeve.

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