Niza

Archivando Mis Recuerdos [1998-2004]

AG-1055 CD Digipak [Sold out] / Digital Album [MP3]

Silvia and Roberto were NIZA: a charming duo who played elegant, sophisticated, subtle and intimate pop music. They formed in september 1998, and in june 1999 they recorded the songs for their debut CD-Single.

Their first published work was, however, a song on the CD compilation “Consuma Pop Español”, released by Madrid’s venue Supergen, and in august 1999 they finally release their debut single on Elefant Records. By the end of that same year, a Japanese online store (Syft Records) selected their CD-Single as one of the outstanding records of the month, and offered their customers the option to listen to one of their songs online.

They welcome the new decade playing –along with LOS CARAMELOS, TCR, LA CASA AZUL...- the 21st anniversary party of radio show “Flor de Pasión”, the daily show on Radio 3 conducted by DJ Juan de Pablos, a big admirer and fan of the band. In october 2000 a new single comes out, titled “Topolino”, featuring three songs. On january 12th, 2001, the same day they premiere “Topolino” live in Madrid, NIZA get their first cover in La Luna, the weekly cultural pages of the newspaper El Mundo, illustrating an article about new Spanish pop.

NIZA’s song “Por las tardes” is included on the CD given away with March 2001 issue of exquisite Japanese mag Beikoku Ongaku. On september 21st, 2002, NIZA and NOSOTRÄSH play an Elefant party at Paris venue La Guinguette Pirate, a boat in the river Seine. This is the first time both bands play outside Spain.

By the end of november 2002 they release “Canciones de Temporada”, their debut album, produced by Ian Catt, who has often worked with ST ETIENNE and TREMBLING BLUE STARS. The album is featured on the top selling lists on some of the FNAC stores (reaching nº1 in Madrid) and the first pressing of 2000 copies sells out in a month.

During october and november 2003 they play live their new songs with the help of Guille Milkyway (LA CASA AZUL) who plays bass and melodica.

But in june 2004 we know the sad news: NIZA cease to exist as a band. Silvia and Roberto took separate ways, but left behind them a legacy of great pop music, and a short discography (two singles, an album and two videos).

Nevertheless, the band’s career doesn’t stop in spite of their splitting up, and they even reform temporarily for some concerts and international tours supporting the release of their album in other countries. “Canciones de temporada” was released in early 2004 in Japan via Rambling Records (a strong record label specialized in reissues and soundtracks as those by Ennio Morricone), and the feedback there is so great that sales quickly reach the thousands. The success of this album provoked what many were waiting for: NIZA’s reunion, even if only for two shows in Japan. As a part of the activities in ExpoAichi, the international exhibition held in the summer of 2005 in Japan, NIZA played in july 20 and 21st at Tokyo’s club Cay (at Spiral Hall in the mythical Shibuya neighbourhood).

On the other hand, the album shows its fruits not only in Spain and Japan: in the summer of 2004 it was also released in Taiwan (via Avant Garden Records), and it’ll soon be released in South Korea (on Ales Music).

Last year, Taiwanese label Avant Garden Records released several assorted records from Elefant’s recent catalogue: “Satélite 99” by Ana D, “Idioma suave” by ENTRE RÍOS, “Popemas” by NOSOTRÄSH, “Canciones de temporada” by NIZA, “Underachievers please try harder” by CAMERA OBSCURA...

The outcome of this collaboration has proved very satisfactory for all, and it goes on now with new releases of Elefant artists in Taiwan. After “Cierra la puerta al salir” by NOSOTRÄSH and “Onda” by ENTRE RÍOS, the Taiwanese label releases now a complete compilation of NIZA, “Archivando mis recuerdos [1998-2004]”.

As the title (“Filing my memories”) tells us, this compilation features bits taken from the whole career of the band, from the two complete singles to a series of rarities and hard-to-find records which we will comment in detail here. The album opens up with an instrumental version of “A contraluz”, a song from their only album just like “Universo”, which is featured here in an acoustic version. From the same album sessions is “Radio Star”, the song they wrote for Radio 3’s DJ Juan de Pablos, previously released on the compilation of his show “Flor de Pasión”; and also “Jamás te he olvidado”, a song previously released on Elefant’s “Modapop” compilation.

The cover versions come introduced by Guille Milkyway from LA CASA AZUL: because it was with him that they recorded the cover versions of Spanish pop legends FAMILY (“Dame estrellas o limones”) and French chanteuse and 60’s pop idol Jeanette (“El muchacho de los ojos tristes”), and also because it is Guille himself who plays piano on their version of the classic standard “Fly me to the moon” (from Astrud Gilberto to Frank Sinatra) which is featured here in a delightfully stripped live version. The only cover version on this album where we won’t find him is “Femme fatale”, a reworking of the classic rock tune by THE VELVET UNDERGROUND and Nico, taken from a home recorded demo, which helps to close the album. Before, however, we will have enjoyed the complete recordings from their two singles (including the song “No me digas que estoy sola”, taken from the recording sessions for their first single and only available up until today on Elefant’s anniversary compilation “Elefantdiez”), and the live radio acoustic versions of “Isole” and “Septiembre”, recorded on Radio 3’s show “Disco Grande”, conducted by Julio Ruiz.

A total of eighteen songs, the perfect companion for those os us to whom NIZA’s only album seemed too short a legacy and left us praying for more. Here it is, at last.