The punk rock wave of the 70s gave ideas to many musicians in the Basque Country: simple and effective music, punk is protest music, which allows the youth of the late 70s to express their discomfort, his desires, his fears, his vision of the world.
In the Basque Country, where social and political struggles are legion, punk joined forces with rock and gave rise to a current called “alternative rock”, “radical rock” or “Basque punk rock”.
Zarama was created in 1977 in Biscay, in Santurtzi in this movement, with a memorable singer, Roberto Moso. Initially the group became known through local concerts, and released a first album, very punk-rock in 1984, “Indarrez”.
Over the course of his career, Zarama has evolved musically, maintaining a rock base, and opening up to other sounds, ska, reggae, world music, even sometimes a few jazzy notes, an evolution which appears in the 9 discs released by the group between 1984 and 2013.
“Bostak Bat”: the five continents united
In 1989, Zarama had already taken the turn of a more melodic punk rock, as evidenced by the album “Bostak Bat”.
The title of the album is particular, with a rather calm music, and hard-hitting words: Bostak Bat, “the five are one”, it is a nod to Zazpiak Bat, “the seven Basque provinces are one”, but for Zarama, this Bostak Bat designates the five continents, which, they hope, will be one, one day, without violence, without racism, without diseases or famines.
Zarama, in 1989, broadcast this message, this dream, in its concerts: a humanist message, which remains topical, more than 30 years after the release of this title, “Bostak Bat”.