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!

A B C D
E F G H
I J K L
M N Ñ 0
P R S T
U V X Z

Last time updated on
Sep-15-2016

Credits!


  Go to the Prog page 
SPRP


  Ver versión en español 
ESPAÑOL


  The Progressiweb 
PROGWEB


Already served
  contador
proggers.
 Ñu 

 From:

    Madrid  

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


José Carlos Molina (voice and flute), Rosendo Mercado (guitar) (by Eduardo García and a long list), Felipe Salinas (drums), Juan Almarza (bass) [just initial line-up].


 Discography:




Cuentos de Ayer y de Hoy
(1978)


A Golpe de Látigo
(1980)


Fuego
(1983)


Acorralado por ti
(1984)


No hay Ningún Loco
(1986)


El Mensaje del Mago
(1987)


Vamos al lio!!
(1988)


Dos Años de Destierro
(1990)


Imperio de Paletos
(1992)


La Danza de las Mil Tierras
(1994)


1975-1995: 20 Años y un Día
(1995)


La Taberna Encantada
(1997)


La Noche del Juglar
(1999)


Cuatro Gatos
(2000)


Colección
(2001)


Requiem
(2002)


Esperando
(2002)


Títeres
(2003)

 Web page:

    Link    

 Opinions and other informations:

    

Their were a quintet featuring violin, flute and mellotron in addition to the usual guitar, bass, drums and keyboards. The seven songs are very heavy, driving and energetic works. The closest comparison I can immediately think of is Tarántula's heavy second album, but with violin and flute. The flute style brings to mind the early, blues-based Jethro Tull though the guitar playing is much heavier (I'm reminded of Uriah Heap, surprisingly). Ñu doesn't play a very complex style of progressive. Instead they emphasis the ROCK! The violin and guitar never let up except for occasional quiet passages. There's not much in the way of keyboards or synthesizer though there are a few nice mellotron passages. Not bad but not great either. (?)


I think that they never were a real progressive band, but Molina has always tried to make his own personal kind of music, although some comparisons to Jethro Tull have been unavoidable due to the use of the flute. On the other hand, the music of Ñu has always been much more hard, heavy or even folk, mixing and fusing those styles. (Alfonso)


Good Tull-influenced group with generous use of flute and violin. Slightly on the heavy side but with symphonic passages as well. Vocals are in Spainish. After teh second album they degenerated into a generic hard rock band. They are still active and apparently popular in Spain. I remember seeing a lot of their CDs on my last trip there (Spring 94). Their first album is very nice, but not great. (Juan Joy)


If you can tolerate the hyperactive vocals, sort of Geddy Lee-ish at his most manic, you'll find Cuentos de Ayer y de Hoy a vastly rewarding musical experience. By using both violin AND flute and mating them with searing hard-rock guitar, they create something that is at once symphonic and intense, something few have come even close to attaining. Add the odd mellotron or synth and you have near perfection. An excellent album. The nine-minute "Paraiso de Flautas" (Flute Paradise) is quite incredible!. (Mike Ohman)


Other webs about Ñu:

LINK


Review of the record "Cuentos de Ayer y de Hoy" (in spanish)