Customer Reviews

Cruzando El Rio

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Radio Tarifa mixes the music of southern Spain and northern Morocco with a unique blend of folk instruments, creating a flamenco-like middle eastern sound that is definitely original and has the roots of authenticity. The energy crescendos and spins into different shapes and spirals - like plopping a stone into a river and watching the waves blend and dissipate over other rocks, the music creates a seamless whole. The incredible sound will send your energy spinning upward and keep you suspended there! If either Spanish or Moroccan music appeals to you, the blend is tantalizing, mesmerizing, hypnotizing ... Erika Borsos (erikab93)

Their first two releases are still two of my favorite CD's -- I listen to them often. At first some of the electric guitar and modern touches threw me off on this CD, but not for long. If you take a few moments to accustom yourself, you may find that this CD is even better than the first two. I love it already and I've only had it for a few days. As usual, the cover art and jewel case art are enticing -- this music has all the flavor of flamenco, Andulusia and Morocco all mixed up into one. Some of the "new" instruments they used on this album sound amazing. My only complaint is that at 36 minutes, this CD is WAY to short -- come on guys, give your fans a few more minutes to hold onto!

Osu is just one of the great songs on this CD. As for its weaknesses, one publication wrote that the drum solo half-way thorough the album was unimpressive. I would have to agree, that is if it really were a drum solo. In fact, it's the stamping feet of a dancer, which I'm sure is much more impressive to see and hear, than just to hear.

This album perhaps has a contemporary appeal in contrast to the previous two and so I found it initially easy to like. But it has also endured many replays over the months. With the electric guitar in a couple songs it mixes in a more modern sound together with the ancient and the exotic. It seems to blend in the usual RT fasion.

Radio Tarifa is such a unique group. They masterfully blend ethnic sounds from a variety of sources, but most specifically elements of traditional music from southern Spain and North Africa. At the core is the powerful textured voice of Benjamin Escoriza bringing a distinctive Spanish flavor. Added are strong percussive elements giving a distinctive North African sound, indigenous instruments such as Moroccan banjo, Egyptian double clarinet, bagpipes, and various wind instruments from the past, such as Renaissance oboes,ney, and cromorno. Added to this, Spanish guitar, and on this album, electric guitar. I think the electric guitar really completes the mix, bringing the past together with the present. I've listened to Radio Tarifa's "Rumba Argelina" for years, and was impressed by what a great album "Cruzando El Rio" is. As with so many groups creating "World Music", Radio Tarifa creates a synthesis of sounds and time periods that is difficult to describe. You have to hear it to understand - check it out!

From the opening, buzzing Middle Eastern cut 'Osu', it's obvious CRUZANDO EL RIO provides a North African/Mediterranean flavor unique in style - and not to be missed.
 There's lots of powerful vocals to back up the Middle East influences in Radio Tarifa's CRUZANDO EL RIO: perhaps more notable is the lively dance beats than the lamenting ballads which weave in and out.

When I first heard Osu,I nearly dropped;I loved this song so much I decided its worth bying the cd for it.However the rest of the songs are weaker and not even worth comparison with Osu.But its a nice buy for any Radio's fan.

This Spanish trio is one of the most creative and eclectic world music bands of recent vintage, although, admittedly, they do have a bit of a prefab, made-for-NPR-and-Borders sheen to them. On this disc they shy away a bit from the slightly ambient leanings of earlier albums, and delve deeper into the Arabic shrillness of Spain's Moorish heritage. There's also still plenty of crosscultural intersplicing, with hints of Celtic, Asian and African music throughout, as well as an ever-present, ever-clever bit of Appalachian banjo picking and country guitar which pops up from time to time. It's a deftly crafted, seamlessly produced album, which balances gritty traditionalism and modern sleekness with admirable grace. A very accessible version of Arabic music, and an album that can grow on you, quite quickly... check it out!

This is outstanding world music from several traditions: Castillan, Andalusian, Japanese. The instrumentation is quite unique, using a number of traditional instruments from the various cultures.

Music styles include flamenco, and tango. This is the kind of music that you can enjoy without understanding the language. After, it's the sound, not the precise ideas conveyed by mere words, that gives this CD its strength.

I can't compare this with the group's previous CDs since I haven't listened to them. But judging from this one, Radio Tarifa is a group that should please world music lovers. The album is short, at 36 minutes, but definitely recommended.

If you're into flamenco music in any way, this will be a nice addition to your collection. A bit of flamenco mixed with arabic sounds. Original! Good indeed. actually, very good.

Another fabulous recording from Radio Tarifa; with "Osu", and "Cruzandos El Rio" you can feel life in Andalucia