Bajan

The song Bajan, part of the 1973 album Artaud, presents us with a soundscape that invites introspection. Its harmonic structure deviates from the conventional, with progressions unusual for the genre and an initial riff that evokes the country style. A particular detail is the guitar chord that sounds over the phrase "despacio, también" (slowly, too): an Emaj7aug, whose augmented fifth creates a dissonance with the bass note, creating a minor ninth interval. The lyrics, narrated in the first person, address a "madman" and then a "girl," establishing an ambiguous connection between them and the stars, the sun, and the moon. This sun/moon duality also appears in the work of Antonin Artaud, to whom the album pays homage.

This track, the seventh on Artaud, was composed by Luis Alberto Spinetta. For its recording, Spinetta had the collaboration of Emilio del Guercio on bass and his brother Gustavo Spinetta on drums. The complete album, conceived in a context of political turmoil in South America, is inspired by the writings of Artaud, particularly his works on figures such as Heliogabalus and Vincent Van Gogh, exploring themes of suffering, inner wealth, and marginalization. Spinetta captured his vision of the essence of rock and life in a manifesto published with the record. In 2009, Spinetta revisited Bajan at the concert Spinetta y las Bandas Eternas, performing it with Gustavo Cerati, with Gustavo Spinetta again on drums. Rolling Stone magazine has highlighted Bajan, considering it one of Spinetta's most important compositions.