THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
947) Módulos — “Ya No Me Quieres”/“You Don’t Love Me Anymore”
This was the Spanish prog band’s first A-side (‘69), “a sweet pop song with psychedelic features and a Hollies-style rhythm in which [Robles’] melodic touch and taste for exquisite arrangements could already be appreciated.” (Aloha Picky, https://www.alohacriticon.com/musica/grupos-y-solistas/modulos/) It is “a sweeping [song] . . . with a sensational organ introduction and closing. . . . a splendid pop tune, with Pepe[ Robles’] voice at its peak. Here commercial progressive music was born.” (https://web.archive.org/web/20070928121447/http://www.guateque.net/modulos.htm) Trigger alert for all Taylor Swift fans — did Did T-Swizzle nick the melody?!?!
As to Módulos’ early years (they broke up in ’79), Aloha Picky tells us that:
Within the sound fauna of rock in Spain at the end of the 60s there were forgettable emulators of the most significant groups of the British Invasion, with a special predilection for imitating the first compositions of the Beatles . . . . [T]he Modules [was] led by the great singer Pepe Robles. They both established themselves as pioneers of psychedelic and progressive music in the Peninsula, with writing in the style of groups such as: Vanilla Fudge/The Nice/Procol Harum/Gentle Giant . . . As in extensions of pop songs with high quality melodies that express his homage to the Beatles, his favorite band, the Hollies or the Californian vocal groups, and baroque cuts, beautifully arranged and produced that are so reminiscent of the wonders of Left Banke’s baroque pop as to the classical compositions of Johann Sebastian Bach. All of this was executed in a splendid manner, however they were excellent instrumentalists, with significance for the omnipresent keyboards of Tomás Bohórquez and the guitar of Robles, one of the best vocalists in the history of rock music in Spanish who impregnates his songs with heartbreak a captivating sad and melancholic tone. The Modules arose in Madrid in 1969, when the singer and guitarist Pepe Robles . . . who was also in charge of playing bongos and playing wind instruments, such as the flute or the oboe, He was requested by the producer of the Hispavox label . . . impressed by his talent . . . to lead a new musical group.
https://www.alohacriticon.com/musica/grupos-y-solistas/modulos/
Abraham says (at the Spanish Progressive Rock Encyclopedia site — so you know it’s authoritative!), courtesy of some goofy computer translation, that:
Modulos was an extraordinaire band formed in 1969, unfortunately too late for the classic rock of the 60’s and when the spanish labels were not decided for supporting the winds of change coming from the outside. Modulos created an own and distinctive sound without loosing the commercial punch . . . . In their sound they mixed the inherence of 60s’ spanish pop español with the intensity of Vanilla Fudge, the Cantatas of J. S. Bach or the delicious touch of Le Orme. That exceptional band was formed up by Pepe Robles, singer of a very large register, composer and remarkable guitarist. The rhythm section was for other two talented players: Emilio Bueno on bass and G. Reyzabal on drums and also on violin. Finally the chief on Hammond was Tomas Bohorque, howling like never heard before. In addition he played accordion and triangle, providing a characteristic “clinc”. . . . Innovative and avant-garde, they take care of their sound to the maximum. They were very professional (the first having an office in Madrid). Their first presentation was prepared until the smallest details. But that was never recognised. Too hard for their time, with too weak words compared to those of bands caming later. Their influences could be found in bands like Vanilla Fudge, Cream, Young Rascals, Italian progressives and lately Yes, but their hippism led them also to the west coast bands. They were pionneers and really good. Not an usual band. Their first three singles become hits but it was their first LP their actual “hit”. . . . Pure velvet, round in shape and content. For the first time in Spain a band gave more importance to the Long Play than to the singles. No one can miss hearing it.
https://www.dlsi.ua.es/~inesta/Prog/SPE/modulos.html#:~:text=Modulos%20was%20an%20extraordinaire%20band,change%20coming%20from%20the%20outside
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