Intuitive Music

Manoel Macía is one of the top guitarists in Spain related to progressive and experimental instrumental music. Personally, I have the honor of having him as a friend since he first got to Madrid, back in 1985, and playing with with in different projects, including the band Experiences in 1994, and several collaborations in projects of my own. These are just insignificant moments from his excellent but rather unnoticed musical path.

Manoel Macía was born in A Gudiña, Ourense, Spain, in 1964 and started studying classical guitar in 1980 with renowned Spanish classic guitar player Francisco Cuenca. He followed his studies in Córdoba’s Conservatory, modern harmony with Carlos Porteiro, modern harmony and jazz technics with Joaquin Chacón, and classic guitar with Tony Madigan. In 1995 he had the first of many Robert Fripp’s Guitar Craft courses in different countries, such as Italy, Germany and Spain. As a guitarist, he has been involved in numerous Spanish bands since 1982, including the Celtic group Galdalus, the rock bands Muzik, Berlin Zoo and Virmana and the acoustic guitar trio Toma Tres, along with Pablo Chabarri and David Poveda. Apart from these bands he is especially known for his involvement in the early years of the renowned Spanish progressive rock band Galadriel. With Galadriel, Manoel worked in the album “Muttered Promises from an Ageless Pond” (1985) and also collaborated with the band in one track for the progressive rock compilation album “Double Exposure”, released by Angel Romero and Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree. During this period he started a friendship with his influential and admired British guitarist Anthony Phillips.

After the release of the self-produced albums “Lizard Music”(1998) and “Caos Sensible” (2001), Manoel has recently finished his last instrumental work: “Cielo Profundo”. An exquisite collection of instrumental pieces casted upon the guitar, which features a rich world of emotions, ambience and colors. “Cielo Profundo” has been already very well received by different media reviews and the sample tracks at Manoel’s Myspace site are getting lots of compliments from guitarists and musicians in general. Though his music has been compared to his personal influences from guitarists such as John Renbourn, Robert Fripp, Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips, in “Cielo Profundo” Manoel Macía has reached a maturity, forging his own personal style in a fusion of the ancient culture from his homeland Galicia and a North-European folk flavor. A unique combination of folk, classical, avant-garde, progressive and Guitar Craft.

Manoel has filled Intuitive Music’s questionnaire to give us some hints about his music and other recommended stuff.

- My last discovery album:

Ultramarine “United Kingdoms” (1993). I’ve been surprised by the musical quality of Ultramarine, their fresh and original way of arranging and writing, added to Robert Wyatt’s clean vocals. An excellent work that shouldn’t be unnoticed.

- The song I always wanted to cover:
“I Am The Walrus”, The Beatles. I go nuts for the the harmonic texture of this track and the vocals. It could be possible to do a cover open to different possibilities and intentions.

- The song that always makes me cry:
“Refugees”, Van Der Graaf Generator. A perfect song: the lyrics and it’s intense message is the gravitational center of delicious tones. “We’re refugees, carrying all we own in brown bags, tied up with string” . The final choirs always make me feel goose bumps. The emotional force of this song is really huge.

- The artist I’d like to work with:
Alan Stivell. He’s a powerful and humble musician. And he knows how to transmit the creative force that we all have in a unique manner: subtle and strong at the same time. I’m sure I would learn a lot about letting music flow as the starting point to express emotions.

- The concert I always wanted to attend:
Genesis, The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway tour: 25th May 1975, Palais des Sports. Besancon, France. I think this is one of the last show from the tour, or the very last one. The stage show of “The Lamb” was a mixture of creativity and top ten lyrics. There’s almost no footage from this tour and 99% was 16 mm. Being there it’s just like a dream for an admirer of the band like me.

- The most underrated band/artist:
Cacofonix. I believe there’s just one Asterix book where they let him play. It’s not fair!

- The weirdest music I’ve ever heard:
King Crimson’s “Thrakattak”. Well, there is weirder stuff than this. Let’s say it’s the weirdest thing I’ve ever heard that I enjoy. King Crimson have always been an improvisational live band and this is an example of freedom and impossible harmonies. It always provokes a weird face to people when they heart for the very first time… and second, and third…

- The underground music in 2010:

Who knows? As Zappa said: “The official culture always meets you, but to meet the underground culture you’ve got to go”. So… let’s go! Despite the demolishing mainstream action.

- My recommended Myspace band/artist:

Deborah Anderson

- My recommended YouTube music video:

Yes “To Be Over”, Queen’s Park, London, 1976.