Los Cheyenes

In the 1960s Spain stood apart from much of continental Europe by failing to foster a thriving garage rock environment, though a scattering of local bands did surface. Los Cheyenes, the Barcelona outfit that composed most of its own riff-driven songs, emerge from surviving recordings as the strongest of these acts. Their sound frequently suggested an especially unrefined variant of the early Kinks, laced with Merseybeat vocal harmonies and folk-rock shading. In contrast to garage groups from most other non-English-speaking countries, Los Cheyenes delivered their material in Spanish; while this trait could limit appeal for some collectors, the bulk of their EPs and singles still packed considerable punch. Enjoying only limited domestic success, the band came under label pressure to soften its approach for broader commercial reach and disbanded in 1967.
~ Richie Unterberger