Uruna – El Primeru (self-release, 2023)
Spanish folk music ensemble Uruna recently released their debut album titled El Primeru (The First One). This recording skillfully presents traditional Cantabrian folk melodies from northern Spain. The band includes Mariu Torre and Raúl Molleda, both with extensive experience in the traditional music field. They draw from their rich musical backgrounds, having been part of well known folk bands in the area like Brez, Bruma, Gatu Malu, and Luétiga.
Uruna’s repertoire presents modern renditions of a diverse range of traditional musical pieces from the region. These include lively dances like baile a lo pesao/baile a lo pesáu and baile a lo ligero/baile a lo ligeru, the pance, polca, rumba, vals, pasacalles, tonadas, and danza de cintas. Notably, Uruna creatively blends acoustic guitars and flutes with twangy electric guitar and other instruments.
This debut album by Uruna consists of twelve tracks, featuring both vocal and instrumental compositions. The band’s arrangements display a remarkable diversity in rhythm and instrumental treatment, encompassing elements ranging from modern electric guitars to more traditional folk music arrangements using acoustic guitars, vocals, and percussion. Additionally, Uruna collaborates with respected traditional and folk musicians like Esteban Bolado and Javier Román “El Niñu,” who share a passion for preserving and evolving traditional music.
Uruna offers a fresh take on northern Spanish folk music, a result of their quest to create their own unique musical atmosphere, akin to the feeling of the “uruna,” the stillness of time within the earth’s depths.
Musicians: Mariu Torre on vocals, guitar, accordion, flute, keyboards, frame drum; and Raúl Molleda on vocals; guitar, whistle, cajón, frame drum, and percussion.
Guests: Esteban Bolado on bandurria purriega (a fiddle from the Poblaciones area of Cantabria), gaita de rabil (hurdy gurdy) and violin; Javier Román “El Niño” on vocals and violin.
Author: Iliana Cabrera
