HACE DOS MESES ESCUCHE POR PRIMERA VEZ SU MUSICA (DIFICIL SI VIVO EN MEXICO ...) Y HE QUEDADO FRANCAMENTE FASCINADA.
USTELA, MAREA GORA, PHUNTZIONARIAT ENTTRE OTRAS... ES PARA MI SIMPLEMENTE MAGICO...

TOIZ biography
Another symphonic gem from the Basque region. ITOIZ was formed by Joseba Erkiaga (flute), A. Azkarraga (bass), Estanis Osinalde (drums), J.C. Perez (guitars), and Jose A. Fernandez (Fender Rhodes piano, Grand piano, Hammond organ, Kong Polyphonic ensemble, ARP synthesizer). Their style is a mixture Basque folk, prog-rock and a little jazz. Still, there are (not surprisingly) absolutely no traces of flamenco influences. The music here is quite beautiful (very Italian, in fact) and emphasizes melodic interplay between interactions of wind instruments with keyboards, and guitars. Most of the tracks have male vocals, while the best tracks have some very beautiful female vocals. But they sing in the Basque language. Their early albums are now considered classics. Although they have many albums only "Itoiz" stands out as a real folk-progressive masterpiece. Their pompous arrangements remind GENESIS and CAMEL although ITOIZ also draw from their own folklore.

The eponymous debut-album (1978) from Itoiz is a wonderful blend of folk and symphonic rock, very original with only some hints to CAMEL and early GENESIS. It contains 8 melodic and tasteful crafted compositions. The music ranges from mellow with flute and acoustic guitar to more up-tempo featuring keyboards and fiery electric guitar. The vocals in the Basque language sound very warm. Highlight is the long track “Goizeko Deihadar”, running time at about 10 minutes. It opens with tender Fender Rhodes electric piano play, strings and pleasant vocals, to continue with a mid-tempo rhythm, Hammond organ waves, fiery electric guitar runs and some short solos on the ARP synthesizer. In the second part the electric guitar howls like Steve HOWE at his best! The song ends with fluteplay in a mellow atmosphere, very enjoyable music.

Their second LP is in the same vein and as good as the first. Synths were omitted and sax and violin added. "Alkolea" is good too. From their fourth album on ITOIZ were largely a pop band, creating straight catchy melodies. With these later albums they became one of the most successful Basque groups in the eighties. Highly recommended if you are not exclusively into "difficult prog".

Hegal egiten
Neukan guzti zen amets bat, amets bat,
beti egoten nintzen
haren bizita zai (Bis)
Ai! ene ama euriak eta baso ilunak
seinalatzen zizkidanez
ez, ez dira etorriko inoiz
Etzazu holako ametsik egin ez
Mantzo zihoan denbora niretzat
lehioak jarrita euriari begira
eta jendeak zion: "mutil horrek
amets bat bakarrik dauka"

Baina egun bate esnatzerakoan
txantxangorri bat ikusi nuen gelan
ta gero beste beste bat eta beste bat
inguratua nengoen ...

OH TXANTXANGORRIAK
GELAKO SAPAIAN
GELAKO SAPAIAN
OH TXANTXANGORRIAK
GELAKO SAPAIAN

Orain herritik mutil bat falta da
ez dago inor bere etxeko lehioan
baso ilunetan dabil hegaletan
txantxangorriak bezala
Orain ba du bihotz nimino bat
eta bi hegal bi hegal euriz bustiak
Bularra du ere gorri kolorekoa eta
eta txantxangorria da

TRADUCCION

Todo lo que tenía era un sueño, un único sueño
Siempre estaba
esperando su visita (Bis)
AI! mientras mi madre me señalaba
la lluvia y los bosques oscuros
no, no vendrán nunca
no tengas ningún sueño como ese
El tiempo transcurría lento para mi
mirando la lluvia desde la ventana
y la gente decía: ese chico
solo tiene un sueño

Pero un dia al despertar
vi un petirrojo en la habitación
y luego otro y otro y otro
estaba rodeado

OH PETIRROJOS
EN EL TECHO DE LA HABITACION
EN EL TECHO DE LA HABITACION
OH PETIRROJOS
EN EL TECHO DE LA HABITACION

Ahora falta un chico del pueblo
no hay nadie en la ventana de su casa
está volando en el bosque oscuro
como un petirojo
Ahora tiene un pequeño corazón
y dos alas, dos alas mojadas por la lluvia
El pecho tambien lo tiene de color rojo y
y es un petirrojo

SOY UN PETIRROJO
EN LA OSCURIDAD DEL BOSQUE
HE CUMPLIDO MI SUEÑO
EN LA OSCURIDAD DEL BOSQUE
SOY UN PETIRROJO
EN LA OSCURIDAD DEL BOSQUE
HE CUMPLIDO MI SUEÑO
SOY UN PETIRROJO
SOY UN PETIRROJO
VOLANDO VOLANDO
VOLANDO