Customer Reviews

Techari (W/Cdrom) (Dig)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Marina & Co. have released another stunning album. They have managed to push the boundaries of flamenco even further with increasingly flawless fusion here is a brief summary of the tracks:
1.Color
Gypsy funk fusion so perfectly executed its hard to tell where the gypsy ends and the funk begins. An upbeat opening track.
2.Sultanas de Merkaillo
Straightforward rumba-menco(or flamenco rumba).
3.Todo Tiende
Bhangra(music from Punjab in India) meets Flamenco. Interestingly enough India is the ancestral home of the gypsies so its somewhat of a "family reuinon". Marina and Maxwell also bust some vicious rhymes.
4.Runali
Afro-Rumba-menco with a hint of Ragga in the vocals. Marina throws in a few Yoruba words and Senegalese Mc Faada Freddy sings in Wolof & English (I'm just assuming its because that it the language of Senegal's largest tribe).
5.El Confort no Reconfortar
Hip Hop beats, with a few Flamennco flourishes thrown in.
6.Tanguillos Marineros
The title says it all, no explanation needed.
7.Silencio
Drum & Bass meets flamenco.
8.No Somos Maquinas
A downbeat number that sounds abit like Memorias Perdidas from Bari.
9.Bailaores
More Rumba-menco.
10.Corre Lola Corre
Reggae and a dash of flamenco.
11. Feedback
More Gypsy funk. Marina also adds a few hi-speed mantras in an Indian language that I can't identify.
12. Piedras Vs. Tanques
Even more Rumba-menco.
13. Respira
Gypsy funk, wicked bassline and complex beats.
14. Nana
Downbeat album closer that fades to silence followed by a hidden track.

If you enjoyed Bari and Vengue then this album is right up your alley. Ojos de Brujo have added a brass section in many of their songs, it was on a few tracks of their previous album but it is more prominent on Techari. I think that this album surpasses its predecessors in many respects. Techari is a mesmerising musical experience that won't disappoint.

Ojos de Brujo return with their most original, experimental, yet listenable album yet. Its hard to believe how many different styles are seamlessly blended with flamenco in this album. On their third album they add flirtations with Bhangra, Jazz, and Persian sounds to the already potent mix of flamenco, hip-hop, funk, south american, and electronic music so ably flaunted on their first two recordings. It will take many listens just to get your head around the exotic rhythms that propel some of the tracks. Personal highlight: intro to Track 11, where scatting leads to beatbox with flamenco guitar, then jazz fusion piano. Incredible! The band sounds tight and focused throughout. Ojos de Brujo are truly one of the most avant-guard, genre-bending acts out there today. The enhanced CD is fantastic as well, further increasing respect for the band as a creative force. Pick this up - you won't be dissapointed.

Well, this group continues to amaze me with their skill and versatility. Based in Spain , the group Ojos de Brujo are international in their scope despite the languange barrier. If music is the universal language the members of this group are master linguists. The music itself is cutting edge but catchy enough to be pop in a perfect world. Part nuevo flamenco, part hip-hop, with dashes of Eastern vibes and jazz thrown in, the music is all over the map in scope but firmly trenched in it's roots of flamenco. "Todo Tiende" is a perfect song that epitomizes the various cultural and musical influences that contribute to the sound of OdB. The song features tablas, box, drums, cascara and congas for a heavy percussive effect, coupled with flamenco guitar, voice and chorus and scratch effects for a pure world beat rhapsody. Asia Dub Foundation member Dhol contributes for some extra magic. The fact that the music is based in flamenco as it's foundation gives it a solid exotic base. They can play straight out flamenco too as is evidence on Pepe Habichuela's "Nana" that is stripped down to the essentials as Habichuela works the flamenco guitar strings for part of the song before ripping into Marina "La Canillas" voice and chorus that accompanies the tabla, loops and 12 string bass for an extraorinary song. All the songs are killer. "Core Lola Core"(Run Lola Run) is a slowed downtempo song that carries a reggae beat coupled with modern elements. "Feedback" includes jazz elements but the raga-rapid-fire vocals are something that defies logic to contribute to a spectacular ending to the song. The booklet is a work of art with colorful pages that are illustrated in modern splashes of ink for a joyful visual experience to accompnay the complete lyrics. The CD-Rom that comes with the music is outstanding. Four songs are featured that include animation and a documentary. The creative force of OdB are everywhere and the visual effects are stunning miniature works of art. The montage of photgraphs are a treat as well. The complete packaging of this disc is an A+ to match the spectacular(A++) music. Recommended for nuevo flamenco aficionados.

Another great album by Ojos De Brujo! Ojos de Brujo again brilliantly mixes straight flamenco and rumba flamenca with afro-caribbean, indian and middle eastern grooves as well as Jazz and hip hop to create a sound that just rocks. I got this CD because I liked their previous one Bari so much and I was not dissapointed. I think I like this one even better. Get it, it will make you dance and maybe sing even if you don't speak spanish.

The flamenco based rhythm/percussion and acoustic guitar supported by a horn section form the strong backdrop for an often very modern vocal sound which includes nice melodic hooks and occasional diversions into Spanish hip-hop. The musicianship here is top-notch, and a quick way to get an appreciation for the quality and style of the group is to watch the cd-rom included as one of the two discs included in this set. The four videos themselves are of as high a quality as the music - the 12 or so minute biography as the 4th "video" is visually informative even if you don't understand Spanish (and I don't!) Where was it filmed - Cuba? Wish I could tell you where the band is from.

As mentioned, for music alone I'd give this album high points. It's got a mix of modern and traditional sensibilties against strong gypsy-style acoustic rhythms. It's passionate stuff and the work of people who've mastered their craft. I like the mix of male and female singers though I wasn't always enamored by ventures into lightning fast semi-agro sounding Spanish rap.. Fortunately those parts don't dominate the album. I'll give them this much though - they're exploring and pushing the boundaries of their medium. And much of what they've come up with on this album is stunning.

Absolutely smokin'..>! Nuevo Flamenco. Saw Ojos at a festival and that was all it took. As they TOOK the show...! Best act all weekend, with a perfect sassy female singer, staccato male rappin' and singing. Exacting Flamenco guitar.... Not a beat or a handclap out of place.

Highly recommended.

Ojos de Brujo (Eyes of the Wizard) is one of the most creative bands in Spain at the moment. They blend stains of pure flamenco (guitarist Ramón Gimenez comes from a line of flamenco guitarists) with hip-hop, jazz, African, Indian, whatever... to make their own unique withches brew. The new album may not be as genre-bending as their second disc "Bari", which I discovered on a trip to Spain a few years back, but after virtually inventing a new style that would be difficult to do. Vocalist Marina Abad is a commanding presence. Check the band out live if you have a chance; they just rocked LA's California Plaza for a free Grand Performance concert. This disc has ample highlights, in particular "Todo Tiende," "Runalí," "Feedback" and "Respira." A must-have disc for fans of Spanish and Latin music.

This cd is full of great beats and delightful noise, a mixture of all different kinds of loud and joyous music- from traditional Spanish music to regeton. Good for dancing, cleaning, and for easy listening. I especially recommend the song Sultanes de Merkaillo.

This is another good CD from OdB, but not quite as great as Bari. However, this one comes with a second disc with videos, lyrics in several languages, and a little mini-movie, which I loved. I definitely recommend this, but make sure you have Bari as well.

Ojos De Brujo translated to English means the "eyes of the witch". My closest friends know how fond I am of Flamenco, Latin, Salsa, Brazilian and fusions with this music genre. When I came across TECHARI by Ojos De Brujo, I was entranced. I had not heard of them before. In actuality they have several albums released already. Techari means "free" in calo', the gypsy language used, along with Spanish, throughout most of the album. The title seems apt as every song seems to float from country to country, style to style, yet remain coherent and unique. Hailing from Barcelona, the band has created a truly original form of world music that could only have been created out of new globalization. It employs a broad range of instruments and a unique combination of hip-hop and flamenco. The group has a sound that glides through turntable scratches and tabla beats, while wafting guitar string and celebratory horns travel through the mix. It is exciting to listen as the CD captures Ojos De Brujos live performances onto disc, almost pulling dimly lit underground clubs along with them into your living room.