b r a n d o n

Haizea are a Basque folk band with some scattered psych influences. Among progressive rock fans, they are probably best known for their second album, Hontz Gaua, which is more electric and includes a 14-minute epic that more than justifies its length. This self-titled album is their debut, and offers little in the way of progressive rock, but it's nevertheless a worthwhile listen, particularly for those who enjoyed the oft-praised Hontz Gaua. Haizea is almost entirely acoustic, with melodies elaborated on acoustic guitar and flute, backed by quiet percussion (no drums - much of the percussion sounds like tapping on the body of a guitar), and overlaid by beautiful vocals singing in the unique Basque tongue. The vocals are the main draw: Haizea use male and female singers, and both have smooth, fluid voices that fit the quietly contemplative nature of the music perfectly. The result is a sparsely textured, harmonically simplistic album which is driven entirely by its pastoral melodies and bright, acoustic timbre. I find my mind wandering quickly, to be honest, with this album. It certainly has its pretty moments - hell, the whole thing is pretty - but there's nothing here that I find beautiful enough to be really attention-grabbing. At best this is a something to play in the background or to have pleasant dreams to. Hontz Gaua is the better of the two, although they're so close in style that if you don't like one, you won't like the other, and vice versa. review by Brandon Wu — 3-7-04 —