Customer Reviews

Rough Guide to Flamenco Nuevo

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I picked up this CD because I was trying to open my musical horizons to include new things, and I have found success so far with several of the rough guide series. This CD let me down for two reasons. First, some of the songs use synths and have a very "pop" recording aesthetic (they don't breathe musically or sound "live" in the least). The second reason I didnt like this rough guide that much was simply because the songs were not that good. I have several other non traditional flamenco cds and they all excel way more that this CD. I was looking for something a step beyond the popular gypsie kings, and no song on this CD tops them. The melodies are boring and the guitar is very much the same old same old. So in other words, nothing is terrible, but nothing shines. I listened to the whole cd twice and can't remember any single song sticking out to me at all. I bought this CD really excited about hearing it, and it left me very disapointed.

If you want an overview of flamenco I suppose this will do the trick. However, there is alot of crossover music found on this disc that might best be classified as Nuevo Flamenco. This is definitely not pure flamenco if that is what you are seeking. As for the music itself featured here I would have to say it is very good and covers a broad spectrum of flamenco styles. Some of the best songs include, Tomasa La Macanita's "Buleria la Mocita" taken from the "Con El Alma" disc that features lots of accompanyment and encouragement(ole's and hand clapping), Carmen Linares's "Del Molinete" from her "La Luna en El Rio" CD is a guttural wailing song with lots of emotion, the absolutely timeless and classic, "La Voz del Tiempo" that features the late, great, vocalist Camaron de la Isla teaming up with Tomatito from the "Barrio Negro" CD, the pure flamenco guitar of Pepe Habichuela on "A Mi Manuel" from the album "Habichuela en Rama," the gut wrenching vocals of Chano Lobato on "A Quien Contarle" from the disc "La Nuez Mosca," and the meticulous and sorrowful stylings of Duquende on "Serra, Que Te Olividara" from the excellent compilation "Los Jovenes Flamencos" CD. Other notable nuevo flamenco artists featured with good songs include the jazz-pop-flamenco work of Pata Negra on "Bodas De Sangre" and the mellow "Pozo del Deseo" that features Songhai with early fusion artists Ketama 20 Pa' Ketama, Toma Ketama. Most of the works featured on this rough guide are ataken from albums from the early to mid nineties and not really even pure flamenco. This is not to say it is bad but be aware that it is essentialy nuevo flamenco that is not so nuevo(new). There are many new proponents of this style of flamenco that are not featured here. If you like flamenco inspired music that fits more into the nuevo flamenco category than you will like this disc. This disc also serves as a springboard for your tastes as you may find some artists you prefer and may choose to seek out their disc. However, if you want flamenco puro(pure flamenco) look elsewhere.