Mantra (Arabiandrock ARCD003, 2012)
The Andalusian progressive rock album that never came out is finally available thanks to the Arabiandrock label. Mantra was one of the most exciting Andalusian rock bands in southern Spain in the 1970s. They combined progressive rock with Flamenco and Arabic influences.
If you are familiar with the bands of the time, Mantra followed the Iman school, with extensive dual guitar and keyboard jams fused with flamenco and North African melodies.
The music on Mantra comes from an album demo recorded in 1979 that never came out. At the time of the recording, Mantra featured Tato Macias on drums, José Manuel Portela Ghessi on keyboards, Juan Ahumada Caputto on guitar; José Antonio Ramírez Harana on bass; and Tito Alcedo Gil on guitar.
Mantra is an essential album in any collection of Andalusian rock. It is a worthy testament to a group of young innovative musicians who took progressive rock in unexpected directions.
Read more about the band’s history and this recording:
Get the album from http://www.arabiandrock.org/tienda.html