Itoiz

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Itoiz is the name of a legendary Basque music band from coastal towns Mutriku and Ondarroa put together in 1978 and disbanded in 1988. Born in turmoil times for the Basque Country (Spain), Itoiz derives from a dancing music band (ie playing other groups' songs) called Indar Trabes, which performs mainly in evening festivities of towns. Throughout their existence spanning ten years, they deal with several styles ranging from folk to progressive rock to pop.

Contents

[edit] History

In 1978, the members of the band Indar Trabes prepare to release an LP for Durango's Basque book and music fair, including songs composed largely by frontman and central figure Juan Carlos Perez. They coin another name for the group on the grounds that the previous name was associated to evening dancing performances. They choose Itoiz, because it is brief, not because of the famous valley (from Navarre).[1] This first album features intimate and whimsical lyrics, difficult to understand, wrapped up in progressive rock music.

During the next three years they go through various reshuffles in the line-up, the music grows more complex and elaborated, but the symphonic sound remains till their 3rd album Alkolea. In 1983 they launch successful album Musikaz blai, which gives up previous progressive and jazzy music patterns, switching to pop rock along the lines of prevailing music trends.[2] Juan Carlos Perez explains, "We used a progressive rock rhythmic pattern to fashion songs, while [guitar player] Jean Marie Ecay brought in a new one, the one we called Fletwood Mac rhythm, a binary rhythmic pattern we didn't know before. He brought along the song concept too, of a three minute duration and a chorus. Up to that point, we made small conceptual pieces, songs with a long development."[3] (translation)

Album Espaloian was released next in 1985 to critical and public acclaim, featuring such hits as "Clash eta Pistols", "Espaloian" and "Hegal egiten". Unexpectedly for frontman Juan Carlos Perez, this more natural album earns them numerous concerts and record turnouts. Despite the band's high in popularity, they come in for bitter criticism and have to put up with hostile attitudes on the part of other bands on the rise in the Basque Country in the middle 80s as well as their public. These bands stand for the punk and rebellious music movement gaining momentum at the time (Kortatu, Hertzainak, etc.) with which they often have to share the bill. "For the bands of the RRV [Basque rebellious music], we represented the establishment's demands, commercialism, we were politically correct. The situation was really uneasy. We had to face up to the people's attacks."[4] (translation)

Another powerful LP follows, Ambulance (1987),[5] but by that year Jean Marie Ecay had quitted the group (1984) onto another bigger Spanish band, J.C. Perez is all alone in charge of the whole artistic production and atmosphere within the band is not good, Perez is tired, so he finally decides to break up elegantly the band with a last live album.

[edit] Line-up

The original line-up inherited from the band Indar Trabes goes through various changes, parentheses take place too, like when the band is all but broken up previous to the release of Ezekiel, members join the band and old members quit. Accordingly, the band's music expertise and exigence in performance improve gradually. Some members worth highlighting:

  • Juan Carlos Pérez: Guitar and voice
  • Foisis (José Gárate): Bass guitar
  • Jose A. Fernández: Piano and keyboards (till 1985)
  • Estanis Osinalde: Drums (till 1979)
  • Joseba Erkiaga: Flute (till 1982)
  • German Ors: Guitar (1981-1983)
  • Jimmi Arrabit: Drums (as of 1982)
  • Jean-Marie Ecay: Guitar (1983-1985)
  • Xabi Pery: Guitar (1987-1988)

[edit] Discography

  • Itoiz (1978): Contains some excellent tracks that have struck a chord in Basque music, such as romantic "Lau Teilatu" (four roofs), elected by popular vote in the 2000s best Basque song ever; poignant "Hilzori I" and "Hilzori II", poetic "Astelehen urdin batean"; etc.
  • Ezekiel (1980): A totally conceptual work developed around the axis of prophet Ezekiel; allegoric, almost religious, featuring a chilling children chorus line.
  • Alkolea (1982): The sound remains characteristic Itoiz sound. Song "Marilyn" is its catchiest attraction.
  • Musikaz blai (1983): A full-fledged pop album with elaborate, landmark tracks like "As noites da Radio Lisboa" or "To Alice", alongside catchy "Marea gora".
  • Espaloian (1985): Confirms Itoiz's know-how and craft with such abiding songs as "Hegal egiten", "Clash eta Pistols", etc.
  • Ambulance (1987): Rockier sound, dirtier; "Ambulance" or "Non nagoen" should be highlighted.
  • Eremuko dunen atzetik dabil... (1988). Final live album.
  • Itoiz 1978-1988 (2000). A compilation comprising all the albums in Itoiz's history, as well as a booklet describing the band's history.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Eskisabel, Jon (2005). ITOIZ, Hari xingle bat. Gaztelupeko Hotsak, p. 51. ISBN 84-933423-8-6. 
  2. ^ Review on Musikaz blai in Elkar's website. Elkar. Retrieved on 2008-03-21.
  3. ^ Eskisabel, Jon (2005). ITOIZ, Hari xingle bat. Gaztelupeko Hotsak, p. 138. ISBN 84-933423-8-6. 
  4. ^ Eskisabel, Jon (2005). ITOIZ, Hari xingle bat. Gaztelupeko Hotsak, p. 156. ISBN 84-933423-8-6. 
  5. ^ Review on Ambulance in Elkar's website. Elkar. Retrieved on 2008-03-21.

[edit] External links