IA-BATISTE - Un Gran Dia

"Key duo from the catalan folk scene, result of the union between Ia Clua (from 2+1") and Jordi Batiste (one of the leading forces of M-ɬ°quina! together with Enric Herrera), after thelater ones return from military service."Un Gran Döa".the duos first album, was recorded at the end of 1972 with the help of such outstanding musicians as Manel Joseph (ex "2+1", Ias early band)), Joaquön "Max" Su-ɬ±er (Vértice, Tapim-ɬ°n, Iceberg y a neverding etc ) & Albert Batiste(Musica Dispersa).The result is an amazing & varied musical tapestry, best heard in the records first side, a long suite covering from orchestral folk-pop with some psych leanings ("Un Gran Döa","Max") to straight in-your-face-Ç hard rock ("Sleeping Rock") via typicalearly 70s prog rock ("Oliba") or uncathegorisable experiments whichdefy all rules-Ç ("Reprise")-Ç and show perfectly the freaky stagereached by the catalan scene in its early years (as a matter of fact,the record is sung in english and catalan...).A piece of wax which went totally unnoticed when first released in a tiny pressing back in the days (thus becoming a big ticket item in the collectors market) and which Wah Wah rescues from oblivionthirty years after its original release.An excellent work which deserves to be discovered by a wider public...Limited issue of 500 numbered copies in gatefold cover reproducing the original artwork, including a colour insert, a colour poster and a bonus 7" single w/ one previously unreleased song." - Wah Wah.