Iceberg - "Tutankhamon" {Spain} [1975] (Prog)

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 Return to Forever 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, as 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 with it's masterful drumming and bass playing, wildly brilliant guitar, and complementing keyboards. Anyone who has been impressed by the guitar styles of Al Di Meola or John McLaughlin should hear Iceberg's Max Suñé play. His searing leads travel the entire neck of the guitar with remarkable fluidity. He avoids the Trevor 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 Return to Forever, 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

Iceberg's Tutankhamon is there only record with vocals, but fortunately they got rid of the singer. It was pretentious and sung in English, Spanish and, maybe, Catalan. -- Manuel De Pinedo Garcia http://www.gepr.net/ifram.html

ICEBERG from the middle of the 70's were easily one of *the* best Progressive bands to come from Spain. This Spanish band ICEBERG came (like Manuel from Fawlty Towers) from Barcelona and consisted of: Max Sune (guitar), Josep Mas Kitflus (keyboards), Primi Sancho (bass) and Jordi Colomer (drums), Angel Riba (voice) could only be heard on the first record.
Their style was definitely jazzier but with continuous conversations between the guitars and keyboards in a mixture of fusion and symphonic sounds. The band mixed RETURN FOREVER or THE MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA's crazy and energetic music and SANTANA's more latin one.

ICEBERG made four studio-albums entitled: “Tutankhamon” (’75), “Coses Nostres” (‘76), “Sentiments” (’77) and “Arc-en-Ciel” (’78). Their final release was the live-LP “En directe” from ’79. Their debut album “Tutankhamon” (eleven tracks) is their most ‘symphonic’: tasteful songs with many shifting moods, ranging from fluent with biting and howling, wah-wah drenched guitar solos to dreamy with floods of choir-Mellotron and tender Fender Rhodes piano. The vocals are often passionate and the interplay between guitar and keyboards is flowing. The other albums contain splendid jazzrock/fusion music with spectacular guitar - and keyboard work. 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. "Coses Nostres" is a very strong release from the ultimate Spanish fusion ensemble. An absolute must if you can find any of the albums. FOR THE FUSION-LOVERS...! http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=659

01. Tebas (1:16)
02. Prologo (3:08)
03. Sacerdotes de Amon (2:53)
04. Amarna (2:56)
05. Lying On The Sand (5:27)
06. Amenofis IV (3:05)
07. Himno Al Sol (4:35)
08. La Muerte (4:19)
09. Close To God (4:08)
10. Too Young To Be A Pharaoh (3:35)
11. Tebas (reprise) (1:49)

Line-up
- Jordi Colomer / drums, percussion
- José "Kitflus" Mas / keyboards, synthesizers, Mellotron
- Angel Riba / vocals, saxophone
- Primitivo Sancho / bass
- Joaquín "Max" Suñe / electric guitar


7. Himno Al Sol ....

8. La Muerte .....

Thanks to my friend ribeirorock from Spain for his recommendation.


Link for download "Iceberg - 1975 - Tutankhamon" in comments ...