SEVEN LTD.
Between our CD-reviews appears a
review of the CD 'Reset devices' of the band SEVEN LTD., a
Spanish AOR band and a really good one, because their debut is
filled with Classic 80s AOR a la STRANGEWAYS, JOURNEY... Needless
to say, I had to get to know this great new band from a country
that offers more than sunshine, beaches and beautiful girls.
Guitarist Xavi Martínez answered the questions I aksed him,
let's see what he has to say about his band and the Spanish AOR
scene...
Please introduce us your band, when did you form SEVEN LTD.?
Seven Ltd formed five years ago,
after the disbanding of a local band called Impulso Vital, which
played nearly the same style, but in Spanish. After several years
of unsuccesful gigs, we decided to split friendly. Dani, Angel
and me ( bass,drums and guitar ) began rehearsing new songs as a
trio line-up, trying to emulate our heroes, Rush, but it didnīt
seem to work, because after so many years playing along with
another guitar player and a keyboardist, what I was hearing in my
head wasnīt what we were playing at the time, so we decided to
look for a vocalist ( dude, what a tough one !!!!) and a keyboard
player. After trying more guys that I can remember, I found
Ringo, so I literally stole him from his previous band !!. After
that, we had to look for a new drummer, because Angel wasnīt
working things out, so the last member to join the party was
Lucas, which I think is the key to our actual sound. Both him and
Kyke, our keyboard player, are professional musicians.
Can you tell us all about your
debut CD 'Reset devices'?
Sure, it was a painstaking recording !!!It was made completely by
ourselves. We decided that we wanted to have our music on record
before we grew old !!! and obviously NO ONE was going to pay for
that. So we got some money and went for it. I worked in the songs
at home with my PC putting all the structures together. The
keyboards were already recorded before we entered the studio, so
Lucas was following a click track with the
keyboards on top, and then the rest of us. We spent one month for
the whole thing, and the studio we used wasnīt
particulary hi-tech, but we made our best to make things happen,
but after that my brein was empty for six months. I think next
time weīll get a producer !!!
Your music is 80s typed AOR with
some Progressive influences, which bands influenced you?
Well, thereīs the “progressive department” (Dani and
me), we love Rush, Marillion, It Bites, that kind of stuff.
Yesterday I saw Spockīs Beard opening for Dream Theater and I
found them to be a terrific band, I think they
will become a huge band. Ringo is the rocker, he likes All
american rock ( Bon Jovi, Hardline, Tyketto…). Kyke is the
biggest fan of Brian Auger and Rick Wakeman, and Lucas loves jazz
and fusion (Dave Weckl, Chick Korea ). But I think we all share
our admiration towards Journey.
How's the scene like for this
kind of music in Spain?
What scene ??? Thereīs absolutely NOT any kind of this in our
country. I only know three or four bands, and only one of them
remains active. Itīs a shame. The only thing you have are
punk-I-like-beer-and hate-police bands and a thousand clones of
new progressive-harpsichord-metal (Stratovarius, what is that
??).I think you could call us an alternative band really. We are
alone .
I heard progressive influences in your
sound, I prefer the AOR sound of songs like "Feel your
love" and "Worlds apart", so I hope you're not
gonna tell me now you are going to change the style into pure
Progressive Rock, because that would be a shame?
Our music is not a planned thing. When we write songs, we donīt
try to make them sound according to any style they just come out
naturally. If I am sad because my girlfriend left me, I write
“Worlds apart”. If I go to see any metal concert and I
feel heavy I write “Seven”. What I can tell you is that
Iīll try our next one to be more even, but it wonīt be
definitely prog metal, though if Iīd like to throw a really
heavy song in, Iīd do it, why not ?. Possibly weīll include
some more acoustic-oriented song, because thatīs something we
never made before, but donīt worry, the main thing will be
there: Melody, taste , quality, and good songs.
Any new songs already written?
How does the future look like for SEVEN LTD.?
We have some ideas. They donīt differ too much with what we
wrote before, because that is what we like. The main objective to
us is to write songs that will pass the time test. Maybe some
acoustic stuff. We are very excited about our future, we are
getting good reviews for our album and that keeps us going
forward. We donīt know what to expect, we are a spanish band in
a spanish label trying to make our way outside our country, and
believe me, this is very unusual, and completely new for us.
Finally, do you have anything to
add to our readers?
First of all a big thanks to you for putting your time and
attention on us, and to your readers: In Spain there is
something more other than flamenco, sun and beaches. There are
many bands that deserve to be heard. Italy has
good bands and no one knew them until Rhapsody, and now you have
twenty bands with a CD out there. We
hope to be the next, with a little help for our friends, YOU !!!
DANKE SCHON !!!