After stumbling upon tons of positive reviews on the Internet about this new Spanish 5-piece formation from Seville I asked Background Magazine to get this second album by Malabriega for me to review, 'asap', because as a huge fan of Spanish progressive rock (including my beloved Rock Andaluz) I could hardly wait to listen to it! About Malabriega, in 2016 the band released their first EP entitled El Duda, in 2017 followed by the album Fiebre featuring 12 tracks (11 + 1 bonus track from their previous EP). The national press and radio picked up their captivating eclectic sound (elements from rock, prog, flamenco, jazz and postrock) and Malabriega started to perform live, along Spanish bands and artists like Tabletom (Nuevo Flamenco), Randy López (bass player/singer from Rock Andaluz legend Mezquita), Storm (The 'Spanish Deep Purple') and Zaguán (tribute to early Triana sound). Anno 2025 Malabriega released their new album named Frippada Andaluza, a very promising title! Frippada Andaluza (La Mar Limpia): The epic titletrack features a dreamy start with twanging acoustic guitar, in a slow rhythm, the atmosphere is pretty hypnotizing. Then a sensitive electric guitar solo with howling runs, in a build up to a compelling climate, somewhere between Porcupine Tree and post rock. Back to dreamy with twanging acoustic guitar, inspired Spanish vocals and rock guitar riffs join, culminating into a powerful sound. Again back to dreamy with twanging acoustic guitars and subtle electric guitar runs, topped with strong Spanish vocals. After pleasant acoustic rhythm guitarplay, blended with a wonderful sensitive electric guitar solo, the music turns into a more lush sound with powerful drum beats. Finally a dreamy climate featuring acoustic - and subtle electric guitar, and inspired Spanish vocals. What a tension between the mellow and more lush parts, a very promising start. Pelo: This is a short but very dynamic track, with the focus on strong and emotional Spanish vocals, topped with a moving electric guitar solo and a harder edged guitar solo, and backed by an inventive rhythm-section, very flowing. El Duelo: First the distinctive flamenco guitar, blended with intense Spanish vocals. Gradually the sound becomes more lush with rock guitar riffs, and a Paco de Lucia inspired flamenco guitar solo. Halfway an exciting break with powerful rock guitar, emotional vocals, and a heavy guitar solo, with echoes from Rock Andaluz legend Medina Azahara. ¿Qué Será?: More Rock Andaluz atmospheres, what a captivating musical encounter between rock and flamenco, from pure flamenco guitar to a rock explosion with exciting harder-edged guitar and a propulsive rhythm-section, topped with Spanish vocals featuring that typical wailing flamenco undertone, wow! Reencuentro. This is a very short but tasteful instrumental that contains folky acoustic - and electric guitar, in a slow rhythm, in the final part a rock guitar joins shortly. La Levedad Del Ser: Lots of flowing shifting moods, embellished with rock guitar riffs, a sparkling flamenco guitar solo and a moving electric guitar solo, and powerful vocals. The melodic rock sound reminds me of 80s Rush. La Libertad: A cheerful atmosphere in a mid-tempo, with catchy flamenco rhythm guitar (the vocals and catchy flamenco guitar reminds me of the Gypsy Kings) and a sensitive electric guitar solo. Halfway the sound turns more lush with howling guitar and powerful vocals. Then a mellow part with rhythm flamenco guitar, and subtle electric guitar, evoking 60s Shadows. Finally again the sound turns into more lush sound with powerful vocals and a strong rhythm-section, what a dynamic composition. Reflejo Vacío: This is the most early Triana inspired composition, due to the inspired, a bit wailing Spanish vocals, and the captivating blend of rock and flamenco, topped with lots of interesting musical ideas. First a slow rhythm, with powerful emotional vocals, rock guitar, a spacey guitar solo with echo, culminating in a mid-tempo beat and an exciting heavy guitar solo, wow! Halfway back to dreamy with twanging guitar and sensitive electric guitar, then a strong build-up and climax with a howling guitar solo and a strong rhythm-section, finally a rock guitar explosion. Calamidad: And finally more Rock Andaluz, first a flamenco guitar intro, then spoken words, and fat rock guitar riffs, to me it sounds as an early Medina Azahara atmosphere, how compelling and exciting! Then back to mellow, with subtle acoustic guitar work, followed by a propulsive rhythm with rock guitar and flamenco guitar (often the known piece Malaguenas comes to my mind in this track), powerful Rock Andaluz vocals, and blistering guitar solo and thunderous rhythm-section, wow, what an awesome conclusion of this album, goose bumps! Well, this is my first musical encounter with Malabriega and I am blown away, what a captivating, exciting, varied but also adventurous sound, blending several genres, with lots of Rock Andaluz moments, and topped with excellent vocals (the one moment reminding me of the rumba flamenco of the Gypsy Kings, the other moment of Rock Andaluz legend Triana), wow highly recommended! **** Erik Neuteboom (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
