This is my favorite studio-album from Medina Azahara, in my opinion their most mature, varied and symphonic effort. The opener Al Hakim ... Otro Lugar has that very distinctive Morish climate, strong and expressive Spanish vocals and pleasant synthesizer flights (in the vein of MARK KELLY). The ballad Otono has become one of the "crowd-pleasers": a slow rhythm featuring emotional vocals, tender pianoplay, bluesy guitar riffs and some fiery and howling electric guitar.

Next is Velocidad, a simple but catchy up-tempo rock song delivering some fine synthesizer runs. On the track La Guitarra guest musician Vicente Amigo (nowadays one of the leading flamenco guitarists!) enters the scene with a compelling acoustic guitar intro and then quick runs, accompanied by expressive vocals (this is the flamenco spirit) and later a fiery electric guitar and sensational synthesizer flights, what an exciting contrast with the acoustic flamenco guitar play! It's bluestime in El Destino but Medina Azahara adds an extra dimension by blending expressive flamenco guitar, moving mouth-organ, wailing Spanish vocals and harder-edged electric guitar, what an emotional experience, goose bumps! The songs Dejame vivir (heavy electric guitar solo) and Tal Como Es (swinging piano solo) are two simple up-tempo pieces in the vein of Velocidad, tasteful but predictable. The final track Desde Cordoba again features the excellent Vicente Amigo on flamenco guitar, this time he delivers exciting duels with Paco Ventura's hard-edged electric guitar, SPLENDID!

Erik Neuteboom (Prog Archives/Progwalhalla/Background Magazine)