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INPRIMATU
Joseba Irazoki One Man Band
In the absence of label
  • I haven't seen in One Man Band format for some time, the guitar master Be! He's been at Club Taberna, formerly Be Bop. Although in recent years it has had little to do with the style created by Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, Joseba Irazoki has approached him a little: risking and experimenting with dissonances and harmonies.
Xalba Ramirez @xalbaram 2019ko azaroaren 20a

Anyone who does not know Joseba Irazoki will know little about the Basque scene. He has collaborated in numerous bands with his guitar, and on his own, on his journey from experimentation to psychodelia, he has hit rock well, receiving praise from within and from outside.

The One Man Band account has made a leap in the age of new and cheap technologies. But, in addition to the loop, it looks like it doesn't need any other help than the bass drum and the percussion. Rock is small when he's in the group, but also when he's alone.

It's a rollercoaster. Up, up, down, down, up, down. You don't know where you're going to explain it, but it's almost certain that if you want to continue you'll have to be alert: ears and head alert. It's able to create a dissonant hum, a country-style dancing rhythm, or give beautiful instrumental guitar pieces like Bill Frisell. Very high.

It also arranged the Fright train of Elizabeth Cotten and the Blue Crystal fire of Robbie Basho. Basho’s work has worked with the Achiary in Basque emigration, and combines it naturally in their personal style.

With the song Zozoak, which premiered on the album Oso Banda, the fans kept their mouths full. In this song he acts as a crazy man, on the asymptomatic loop, with dissonances that complement melody and harmony. And with his twisted, surreal and deep letters: “Shit, shit for you!”

Also with the song Ahotik Now. Despite the fact that Joseba Irazoki and Lagunak sing more simply on the album, he screamed loudly here, screaming at the Old Moon, surprising where it would appear. We cannot forget Niko Etxart singing a free Tumatxa.

Undoubtedly, the height of the concert was completed by Irazoki with the Karlos Aranzegi battery. The audience busted up to play the "battery." Let's determine: a bass drum, a can, a broken plate and a piece of iron. The most beautiful thing about improvisation: percussion up and up strengthening the infinite loop of the guitar. They had to be almost ten minutes, more than in the fight, giving strength to each other every second.

It was an election night, and without an official count, the results were scary, which little has been written out of fear of democracy. That’s why – or – Irazoki finished the concert singing the Pacifism of Sarrionandia.

Someone should invent some label to name this Radical Basque Rock of the 21st century. The canon already knows who it is!