Barcelona Traction. 1975 Spain

---2/24/17

Barcelona Traction was actually a Canadian utility company (later owned by Belgians) operating in Franco's Spain, to which he went to battle with in the 1960s trying to limit foreign business influence in "his" state. It resulted in a court battle.

I learned that trying to find something interesting about this band, which I failed to do, other than they started life as "The New Jazz Trio", which is telling. Well, Barcelona Traction is an interesting name then, isn't it? What does it have to do with the sound of the namesake band? Absolutely nothing.

In fact Barcelona Traction were a very early entry for jazz rock in Spain. They favored the sunny and the tropical, predicting a type of sound that would dominate the landscape for the next few years. Electric and acoustic piano dominate the proceedings, while bass, drums, and percussion fill out the lineup. Rhodes and Mini-Moog provide much needed texture. Given that it is early in the continuum, I found this one to be a tad rawer than the usual slick cruise ship sounds. A pleasant way to watch the sunset on a beach with a frozen margarita.

---9/21/24

In hearing the album for the second time since, I picked up the sound of Philadelphia's Catalyst - minus the saxophone. The latter was a defining instrument for that band (and at times abrasive), but one can imagine the same smooth melodic approach of both groups. Every track is a winner and so pleasant to the ear, perhaps only A2 not reaching the heights of the others. An all instrumental jazz rock gem.

Ownership: CD: 2009 Picap. Jewel case. Booklet that replicates the liner notes from the LP.

2/24/17 (first listen / review / new entry); 1/13/18; 9/21/24 (update)