Spanish Music

  Rough-voiced, authentic Spanish gypsy flamenco with strong social commentary meets occasional screaming rock guitar -noted here as 'Billy guitar' - in NO PAPELES (NO PAPERS) . Throw in a female backup singer and you have the essence of Martires del Compas.

 If you speak Spanish you might relate to the lyrics decrying against poverty and injustice; particularly as they apply to the Roma people (gypsies) who have been kicked around Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa for centuries.

 At first listen I found this group's sound jarring: the heavy metal licks and the sandpaper voice of lead singer/songwriter Chico Ocana took a while to absorb. But after the third or fourth listen I finally got it: this group is good - they can rock out or wax poetic on a sad, romantic ballad just as easily, though I think I might enjoy the softer tunes more if female chorus signer Rogo Vazquez took the lead on these tunes.

 Kaloome is made up of gypsy musicians of the Catalan area of Northeastern Spain: across the Pyrenees Mountains is the Catalan-speaking region of France where the famous Gypsy Kings hail from. Why mention this? It's a point of reference, and there are some similarities between the two groups as well as some big differences.

 The Gypsy Kings are all males playing acoustic guitars: Kaloome is also all-acoustic, but two ladies add eye appeal while adding in violin, voice and dancing, an essential ingredient in any Flamenco group. Kaloome also includes bass and piano.

 Both groups play a sort of 'Gypsy rhumba meets flamenco' sound; but the Kings lean towards an occasional pop sound where Kaloome will lean towards jazz, and includes instrumental as well as vocal tracks.

 Gypsies are believed to be originally from India: listening to the somewhat rough voices on SIN FRONTERAS, I can really believe it: that wavering quiver of the vocal chords reminds me of Indian and Pakistani vocalists.

 Kaloome is more of a challenge to listen to than the Gypsy Kings; but if you do, you'll be glad you did. It make take a while to appreciate the sound; but this group has a depth of quality that grows on you.

 I'm particularly enthralled about the violin: such a sweet, mournful sound to add to the mix! Jazz giants of violin Eddy South and Stephan Grappelli would have approved.

 Other groups and projects have fused the music of flamenco Spain with the Berber and Arab sounds of North Africa; but no-one I've ever heard did so with such passion and with so many elements, including rock guitar and black North African music.

 Though there are several guest artists, Jbara overdubs himself on eight different instruments.  His music is so intense and exciting, it's hard to breathe: it must be very strenuous indeed to actually play it.

 The bass playing comes from the Gnawa tradition (black Africans, from what is now Niger and Burkana Faso, who migrated perhaps involuntarily to Morocco).

The incredible sound on ALCANTARA SALAM FI ALALAM, with lots of percussion added, has to be heard to be believed.

  "Soft and subtle" are not terms usually associated with flamenco, but it sums up the style of Juan Carlos Romero, a player with major talent quite capable of lightning-fast runs and dramatic flourishes - but who for some reason chooses to avoid the dramatic and just play some of the highest-quality guitar I've ever heard.

 Juan Carlos plays all the familiar flamenco styles, including rumba - but even here he keeps it soft and subtle; yet his music can be challenging: there are more changes within a tune than some more commercial players might play, so though Romero's music is soft, it's far from easy listening.

 Romero already has a very impressive list of credits of people he's played with, as well as film soundtrack work. His reputation outside of Spain should build with the release of ROMERO; however his subtle 'true art' playing might keep him from attaining the heights of rumba flamenco acts like the flashier Gypsy Kings.

 Os Cempes (the Centipedes) hail from Galacia, the Celtic part of Spain. For the last twenty years or so there has been a regicidal of the traditional music of this region, of which The Centipedes have been a part.

 If you're not familiar with Galacian music, it often sounds like a cross between Irish music and Renaissance music with songs sung in Spanish: much of it is aimed at dancing.

 MOE A MOA is Os Cempes' third album and was recorded live at what sounds like a good-size hall. The band has expanded in both its personal and musical scope over the years. Many non-traditional elements have come into the band: rock, jazz, and American country music in particular.

 The musicianship is extraordinary, switching styles and tempos midway through a song without missing a beat.

 Bagpipes and accordions meet rock guitar or saxophone meets country guitar so smoothly you'd think MOE A MOA just has to have been recorded in Nashville.

 Os Cempes has to be one of the best bands recording in Europe: if they ever begin singing in English, they could conquer the world.