Nueva Canción Canaria and roots music
Taburiente was decisive in Nueva Canción Canaria: from 1974 it transformed La Palma’s folk roots through songwriting, electronics, rock and Atlantic music, with social, identity-centred and environmental lyrics.
Taburiente was formed on La Palma in 1974 by Luis Morera, Miguel Pérez and Manolo Pérez, following an earlier project called La Contra. Nuevo Cauce (1976), produced by Teddy Bautista, fused Canarian folklore, protest song and synthesisers. Ach-Guañac (1978) also introduced progressive-rock elements and placed the group among the leading Canarian singer-songwriter voices of the Transition.
Its contribution was to create new sounds from the roots rather than simply reproduce them. Ach-Guañac became associated with the period’s identity claims, while later work broadened the discourse towards peace, environmentalism and personal experience. In 2022 the Canary Music Awards granted Taburiente their Honorary Award for almost five decades of musical contribution.
Taburiente’s music evolves without leaving its home territory behind. Timples, guitars, voices and percussion were joined by synthesisers and progressive rock in the 1970s; electric bass and North African influences shaped A Tara, A la Quinta Verde and Atlántico; electronic, Cuban, jazz and reggae colours followed. A la Caldera, La Quinta Verde and Ach-Guañac condense this bond between landscape, identity and experimentation.
Taburiente passed on an understanding of tradition as contemporary material. Its songs accompanied social movements, circulated beyond the archipelago and became a reference for Canarian songwriting. Antología, recorded for the thirtieth anniversary, and Libre, made with a renewed line-up, show how the group returned to its repertory with new arrangements to keep it active.
Luis Morera, Miguel Pérez and Manolo Pérez form the group on La Palma.
The first album joins folklore, protest song and synthesisers.
The album and title song become Nueva Canción Canaria landmarks.
A Tara, A la Quinta Verde and Atlántico add electric bass and North African influences.
The Canary Music Awards honour almost five decades of contribution.
