Nu - A Golpe de Latigo. 1979 Spain

Ñu's sophomore effort A Golpe de Látigo sees the band streamlining their sound further, as the music here is heavier and more compact than their stunning debut. All the same, Ñu is still very much a progressive rock band with Jose Carlos Molina continuing to sport a mean flute, and the violin touches have yet to disappear. But for 1979, this is an incredibly heavy album. The raw proto-metal guitar sound, and the Halford-esque en Español shrieks of Molina, all have a passing resemblance to same era Judas Priest. So imagine perhaps Ian Anderson walking into the studio for the Hell Bent for Leather sessions, while contributing to the songwriting - and after listening to a Bloque album perhaps - and you have an idea of what Ñu has accomplished here. Groundbreaking stuff.

Ownership: LP: 1980 Chapa Discos. Gatefold. Online acquisition from 2020. According to Discogs, the version I have is one year later from the original. My first copy was the Zafiro CD (1991) but offers nothing else, and I decided to move it out. 

11/4/16 (RYM)

Ñu - Cuentos de Ayer y de Hoy. 1978 Spain

Jose Carlos Molinas is the charismatic leader of Ñu and he employs a unique dramatic vocal style and also plays a mean flute. Heavy guitar (bordering the early 80s heavy metal style) and violin round out the major components of their sound. Ñu are generally compared to Jethro Tull, but I don’t hear it myself. As we know, any time aggressive rock is mixed with flute, you’ll get that reference. In some places Ñu is like a proto Deus Ex Machina, especially when you compare Molinas' histrionic singing with Alberto Piras' style. The last two tracks 'El Juglar' and 'Paraiso de Flautas' are extended complex compositions with copious flute and violin.

Ownership: LP: 1978 Chapa Discos. Gatefold. Online acquisition (2011).

CD: 1992 Crime (Japan). Jewel case. Features one bonus track, taken from a 45.

1993; 5/20/12 (new entry); 7/19/19