| 1 | RO 276 | 1:27 |
| 2 | E | 3:28 |
| 3 | FB II | 2:27 |
| 4 | ORKA (Feat RAPHAEL ROGINSKI) | 3:19 |
| 5 | RO27 | 1:51 |
| 6 | RO1619 (Feat RHODRI DAVIES) | 3:28 |
| 7 | 3KO | 2:57 |
| 8 | CHESHIRE HOTEL | 3:41 |
| 9 | OAM | 3:22 |
| 10 | 6465 | 3:28 |
| 11 | ONCE | 5:13 |
| 12 | 1920 | 2:36 |
| 13 | FB | 3:33 |
| 14 | 396267 | 4:17 |
| 15 | E II | 3:27 |
| 16 | 12c7 | 1:49 |
| 17 | CHETZE | 2:03 |
| 18 | MU | 2:24 |
| 19 | OSOL | 1:57 |
| 20 | OG | 3:37 |
| 21 | RO730 | 3:52 |
| 22 | 12c7 II | 1:16 |
| 23 | RO20 | 3:14 |
Otoroku is proud to present a prodigious, captivating album of solo guitar improvisations from Basque musician, Joseba Irazoki. Ranging across 23 tracks, the two parts of the album act almost as fractal mirrors; each reflecting the other in myriad ways, teasing out fresh threads and intricacies with each listen.
Gitarra Lekeitioak (Onomatopeikoa II) follows on from Irazoki's 2017 Gitarra Onomatopeikoa release, and that album's sense of untethered, questing curiosity is not only carried over but expanded upon even further here. Combining a fully committed approach to the guitar with an almost egoless lightness of touch, Gitarra Lekeitioak (Onomatopeikoa II) builds upon the already impressively scopious range of Gitarra Onomatopeikoa to dizzying effect.
From the gated tone-and-noise and abrasive melodies of opener RO 276, to the driving, mesmeric thrust of 3KO; the yearning, twilight refrains of 396267, to the delicate, harmonic patter of MU; the acoustic virtuosity of CHESHIRE HOTEL to the semi-scrambled electronic ‘duet’ of OSOL, Irazoki makes full use of an impressively broad palette. Yet nothing feels forced, nothing is for show – there’s just a sense of open-hearted generosity.
In lesser hands such a whirlwind tour of style and form might risk failing to get its hooks in deep enough, yet not only does Irazoki have the imaginative scope to tackle these varying approaches to the instrument, he has the technical chops to pull it off. Each composition seems to have an openness of intent that is utterly disarming; all cards are on the table and nothing is held back, resulting in a creative tour de force that builds, piece by piece, to a unifying cohesiveness that makes the whole far greater than the sum of its parts.
Featuring contributions from long-time OTO favourites Rhodri Davies and Raphael Roginski, Gitarra Lekeitioak (Onomatopeikoa II) is nevertheless unmistakably a work of singular craft and vision.
--
"I recorded this album between November 2023 and May 2024 in the studio of Eztegara's house. Iñigo Irazoki has done the mixing at Atala studios.
This album is the continuation of "Gitarra Onomatopeikoa" that I released in 2017. I have continued to look for new paths with the guitar trying to work on my own voice, using "instant composition" formula.
All the music has been created by me, except for the "Hotel Hor Cheshire", composed by Sazem. In two pieces I have been accompanied by the Polish guitarist Raphael Roginski and the Welsh harpist Rhodri Davies.
The cover has been made by Ramón Zabalegi.
Thanks to everyone who has helped me making the album."
- Joseba Irazoki, October 2024, in tribute to Mikel Laboa.
Available as 320k MP3 or 24bit FLAC
Tracklisting:
PART 1
1. RO 276 - 1.27
2. E - 3.28
3. FB II - 2.27
4. ORKA (Feat RAPHAEL ROGINSKI) - 3.19
5. RO27 - 1.51
6. RO1619 (Feat RHODRI DAVIES) - 3.28
7. 3KO - 2.57
8. CHESHIRE HOTEL - 3.41
9. OAM - 3.22
10. 6465 - 3.28
11. ONCE - 5.13
PART 2
12. 1920 - 2.36
13. FB - 3.33
14. 396267 - 4.17
15. E II - 3.27
16. 12c7 - 1.49
17. CHETZE - 2.03
18. MU - 2.24
19. OSOL - 1.57
20. OG - 3.37
21. RO730 - 3.52
22. 12c7 II - 1.16
23. RO20 - 3.14
Versatile and restless, elegant and pragmatic Basque musician who has an extensive discography with almost 20 albums released. As interested in composition as in improvisation, Joseba Irazoki has been leaving his mark on a heterogeneous amalgam of projects, adventures and intentions that have ended up freeing his most introspective and personal self in the works in which he has dared to sign with his first name. With them, Irazoki has opened wide a sincere and direct universe, neat and elaborate, rocked by the attentive study of tradition and experimentation with the six strings, but also in the avid search for a distinctive, a specific identity that the Basque musician has found by making use of his own resources. Thus based on imaginative guitars, on their ability to make loops that exude naturalness, as if they had always floated among us, in a frank, confident and exciting voice, and e and in the ability to corner great melodies. Joseba is a versatile guitarist, brave and sensible, immediate and, at the same time, full of admirable nooks and crannies. Always between composition, improvisation and experimentation, configuring a surprising and unclassifiable artistic proposal.
Parallel to his deliveries as "Joseba Irazoki", this artist has been developing a list of projects and collaborations with other musicians participating as a session musician and as a live guitarist in projects among which are: Nacho Vegas, Duncan Dhu, Mikel Erentxun, Rafa Berrio, Amateur, Petti, Rudiger, Rafa Rueda, Anje Duhalde. In addition, Joseba has been a member of the prestigious group Atom Rhumba and has toured and collaborated with international artists such as Terry Lee Hale, Barrence Whitefield, Damo Suzuki. On his list of record labels with which he has published are: Lucky kitchen, Creative sources, Glasvocht records, Important records, Con-V, Moonpalace records Hirusta records, Bidehuts, Brown interior music, Mascarpone discos...
From 2001 to the present day he has released a wide variety of albums that encompass instrumental, experimental and improvisation-based works—Tokian tokiko (2005), Olatuetan (2006), Pertsona (2007), Gitarra onomatopeikoa (2017), Ez-Nostalgia (2019)—, and others in song format: Irri eta solas (2004), Gizona zakur egin zen (2005), Pobre gara (2007), Euria ari du (2010)... His latest albums are signed as J.I.E.L(Joseba Irazoki eta Lagunak) I(2014) eta Zu al zara? (2018) and III (2021). On the other hand, he has also recorded two albums with Beñat Achiary and Julen Achiary under the name BASHOAN, paying homage to the American musician Robbie Basho, and was founder and composer of the groups ONDDO and ON BENITO.
