01	Recuerdos De Mi Tierra						07:45
	02	El Bizco De Los Patios						04:19
	03	Desde Que Somos Dos						05:46
	04	Ara Buza (Dame Un Beso)						04:34
	05	El Suicidio						07:22
	06	Obertura En Si Bemol						06:10

Mezquita [Spain]

Recuerdos De Mi Tierra (79)

Fantastic symphonic progressive from Spain. Layers of synth intertwine with electric and flamenco guitar to create a gorgeous work of intensity and melody. Vocals are in Spanish, which I think has to be one of the nicest singing languages. Native Spanish influences as well as the best ideas from the Italian symphonic progressive bands can be heard throughout the music giving a unique twist to this subgenre. The intensity never lets up. One of the best from Spain, or anywhere for that matter.

Spain's late seventies "progressive rock" scene was flowing in the abundance of new and creative talent and this short lived band was practically at the zenith of this genre's adherants. A heavily folk influenced symphonic rock with an abundance of minor second intervals, Mezquita's music owed much to flamenco and classical stylings and showed a tendency to drift to romantic or haunting melodies. As with many of Mezquita's contemporaries such as Triana, Iman, Ibio and Granada, there is a strong King Crimson influence. Yet the overt cultural folk references remain strong, bringing a distinct original flavor that nearly remains a standard for Spanish progressive rock. Mezquitas music at times sits close to the Italians, with hints of Osanna and Semiramis; at other times the French like Shylock or Artcane. The level of comparisons should bring it into perspective, this is one of the supremely classic examples of European symphonic progressive rock.