The Spanish Progressive Rock Encyclopedia

Cayetano Lorenzo (keys) (by Luis Ivars), Alfonso Linares "Lino" (drums), Juanjo Guijarro (bass), Gino Pavone (percussion), Pedro Giménez (guitar), and Víctor Carratalá (vocals and moog).

Mediterráneo was a group from Alicante that suffered a curious evolution along their history. They published 5 albums and some, few EPs. The first one ("Estrechas Calles de Santa Cruz") is clearly in the vein of the symphonic ambience of the seventies, although with calm songs, latin harmness, without heavy sounds, and a sound very "jazzy" of most of the spanish bands of the moment. The second one ("Tabarca") is probably their best one, since they are more mature and have found their distinctive sound. The album still have interesting tracks, with a mix of prog with latin and jazzy flavors, but it already permits to make out that the tendency of the group was to evolve toward more easy-listening and commercial sounds. This album gave them some national hits (like "No, no, no" and "Nada Nuevo") and guide them toward a third release ("Número 1 en USA"), without anything slightly looking like progressive, just food for the FMs. In short, a pity of seeing good mussicians pressured by the necessity (or the desires) of earning money instead of the freedom of *making* their music. José Manuel Iñesta