The Spanish Progressive Rock Encyclopedia

The opinions and feelings are from a number of afficionados to this genre, so the descriptions and opinions contained in the entries do not necessarely match mine. Any correction or addendum is welcome. Send them to me via e-mail to inesta[sorry]dlsi.ua.es and the entry will be updated. Thanks for your collaboration!

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Last time updated on
Sep-15-2016

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proggers.
 Iceberg 

 From:

    Barcelona  

 Musicians: (original line-up and changes between parenthesis)


Max Suñé (guitar), Josep Mas "Kitflus" (keys), Primi Sancho (bass), Jordi Colomer (drums) and Angel Riba (voice, only in the first record).


 Discography:



Tutankhamon
(1975)


Coses Nostres
(1976)


Sentiments
(1977)


En Directe
(1978)


Arc en Cel
(1979)

Singles:

La Flamenca Elèctrica / Preludi
(1976)

 Web page:

    not available    

 Opinions and other informations:

    

Iceberg were easily one of *the* best Progressive bands to come from Spain, or anywhere else for that matter. Their music is a shifting, complex mixture of fusion guitar and symphonic keyboards. "Coses Nostres" is most similar to Return to Forever's "Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy". Anyone who like's that RTF album will flip over Iceberg. Guaranteed! The scorching guitar dueling it out with the sizzling synthesizer will make you drop your jaw. The rhythm section are mind-blowing, riffing non-stop and enjoining battle with the guitar and keyboards. Vocals are too scared to get hear this hotbed so it's instrumental all the way. The subsequent albums reveal a more unique voice for Iceberg though still a very fusionesque form of symphonic progressive. Well worth searching out but the LPs are apt to set you back several dollars. I've seen "Coses Nostres" go for $50-60. It's worth it. An absolute must if you can find any of the albums. Try for "Coses Nostres" or "Sentiments" as they're a bit better than "En Directe" or "Arc En Ciel" though any of these are fantastic. I haven't heard "Tutankhamon". (Mike Taylor)


Spanish prog has a reputation of being jazzy. This is with good reason - most of the bands from Spain that I've heard, such as Om, Cai, Guadalquivir, and Azahar, have a strong fusion or jazz element. But Iceberg stands out among them as being a top notch fusion album not only of Spain, but of all time! With a lineup that rivals those of Return To Forever in terms of skill, "Coses Nostres" is a fusion-lovers wet dream wi it's masterful drumming and bass playing, wildly brilliant guitar, and complementing keyboards. Anyone who has been impressed by the guitar styles of Di Meola or McLaughlin should hear Iceberg's Max Suñer play. His searing leads travel the entire neck of the guitar with remarkable fluidity. He avoids the Rabin-esque playing fast for the sake of playing fast, and instead combines a traditional Spanish style with the modern rock guitar style of the seventies. The drummer plays on the level that you might expect from Lenny White or Billy Cobham. And lets not take anything away from the keyboardist and bassist, both of whom are excellent. The music is a complex, time-shifting combination of riffs and leads, with an all around aura of musicianship that reminds me of Area (only missing are the vocals and the wild experimentation). Iceberg's themes are upbeat and bouncy most of the time, but don't let the jazziness turn you off. If you're into well written and played progressive fusion like "Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy" era RTF, or "Visions of the Emerald Beyond" by the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Iceberg is a must. "Coses Nostres" easily makes my top ten fusion favorites. (Mike Borella).


"Tutankhamon" is their only record with vocals, but fortunately they get rid of the singer. His sung was pretencious and he used to sing in English, Spanish and Catalan. (Manuel De Pinedo Garcia).


I must say that all stated above is just true, without a tip of exaggeration. Nevertheless I miss some commentaries on "Tutankamon". That was the first Iceberg album, but if one have everyone but this it can be thought that it is an album of a different band. There is no trace of fusion in it, but just symphonic rock, in the vein of the stars of that moment (1975), very brilliant in some occasions that leads to think that it is an important album, but then it falls in dull stages. In this album the voice is an element in equal conditions to the rest of instruments (then, a quintet). "Tutankamon" is a nice record but taking a look to the latter ones it pales terribly. (José Manuel Iñesta)


Review of the record "Tutankhamon"

Review of the record "Sentiments" (in spanish)

Review of the record "Coses Nostres" (in spanish)

Review of the record "Arc-en-Ciel" (in spanish)