The novel Acordes y recuerdos, by Andrés Martínez, is an autobiographical journey that explores the passion for music and the social reality of Barcelona's Nou Barris district. The author, known for his career in music magazines such as Ruta 66 and RockZone, and for having managed the record store Disc K7, presented his work last Friday at Anònims.
“"I was passionate about everything unusual, from Peret's guitarists with those long sideburns, to Lou Reed putting on makeup like a woman. In contrast, I couldn't stand flamenco because it was my father's music and I felt I had to rebel against it, although over time I've come to understand it."
During the presentation, in a conversation with music critic Sergio Martos and Librorum podcast author Vanessa López Saló, Martínez highlighted Nou Barris's role as an epicenter of working-class and neighborhood struggle during those decades, with rock'n'roll as its soundtrack. The novel's protagonist shares the same passion for this musical genre as the author, immersed in neighborhood Barcelona from the last years of Francoism to the euphoria preceding the Olympic Games.
“"90% of the story is autobiographical. His first big concert, a triple bill with Rainbow, UFO, and Def Leppard in 1980, was also the first one I attended. And the secondary characters are also real."
Among the secondary characters, Martínez mentioned the saleswoman of a record store, whom he considered his "first reference." The author emphasized that his work does not romanticize the past, but rather portrays the reality of an era marked by police brutality, the rise of heroin, and ingrained machismo, even though his generation was the first to have its basic needs met.
The novel also addresses Martínez's complex relationship with his father, a man who arrived in Barcelona from Jaén at just 15 years old. The author reflected on patriarchy and the understanding of his father's life circumstances, which allowed him to make peace with the past.
