Customer Reviews

Toma Ketama

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

 

 

A little dissappointing on first listen but it has grown on me. The Ketama I was looking for in this new release was Ketama the innovators of days gone by. I first heard these guys when they were featured on a CD entitled" The Young Flamencos"(Los Jovenes Flamencos) and was impressed with the direction they were taking tradional flamenco. Like the "Gipsy Kings" their sound is roots bound but is incorporating other elements to reach a vast audience, alas , pop acceptence. I wish they would just play, return to the true art form of flamenco and forget the diversions. Don't get me wrong this is beautiful music, exqusite at times, romantic, jazzy, rap-ish, samba-ish but always very polished. At times you'd think you were listening to Astrud Gilberto's flamenco album. Maybe it's just the fact that it was recorded in Rio. Sometimes a diamond in the rough is best. They seem to have lost the hard cutting edge they were on the threshhold of exploiting and have settled for mass appeal. When the vocals hinge on the crossover I wish they would go over to the other side and get guttural and forget the chorus more fiting for an r&b song. These songs remind me an experiment gone awry, still retaining the original beauty of it's shape but starting to change into something hardly recognizeable. Almost like processed corn being recalled. Now after 5 or 6 listens I like it more but still have the same problems with the music, more flamenco less everything else. When the vocalist wants to you can hear that voice go true "cancion ondo" but the passion is drowned out by the excursions into other territories. I like it, don't love it and I suppose it will grow on me even more. It really is quite beautiful at times just not enough of the time. If my review sounds confused it's because that is the way the CD is, confusing, puzzling because it is so beautiful yet so blase at the same time. Innovative and reaching for new grounds for flamenco but what's wrong with tierra firme? All in all a good listen but a CD in search of a true identity.

Ketama representa lo mejor de lo que es el llamado "flamenco-pop" de Espana. Es una pena que sean los Gipsy Kings los unicos exponentes de este genero a nivel mundial.(y para colmo, son franceses!) Ketama posee una finura y elegancia que carece los Gipsy Kings, y esto es evidente en su musica. Ketama mezcla una infindad de ritmos y estilos tales como flamenco, rumba, salsa, bossa nova, bolero. etc. La calidad de produccion y grabacion es tambien magistral. Este CD es ideal para relajarte y tambien para bailar. No te lo pierdas!

I have been kindof stuck on ketama too for a while. I did not like the turn they have take towards pop. I thought Sonhai I and II were brilliant. The lyrics on this record are so empty they make me want to turn it off. Their music though, continues to intoxicate me. I am leaning more towards the sarcasm of Martires or the daring spirit of Pata Negra. Or better yet the cohesiveness of Radio Tarifa. I wish ketama would get a little more serious about it all.

I fell in love with Ketama's music during my visit to Barcelona in early November this year and have not stopped listening to this cd. Unfortunately, I don't speak Spanish and have no idea what the words are to most of the songs. (I must find someone to translate for me.) What I do know is that Ketama has a number one hit with this cd. Their music and expression of each song transcends any language barriers. Each song is fresh and lively with emotions that flow magically from one song to the other. I especially love track #11 (Agustito) which I can only describe as a very funky tune. I bought 2 copies of this wonderful cd--one for me and one for a cousin who could not make the trip to Spain due to illness. She, too, is in love with Ketama. People who hear Ketama's beautiful sound always want more. All I can say is...play on Ketama!

First of all, this isn't Latin music. No offense to the other reviewers. Ketama is one of a growing number of flamenco-pop groups emerging in Spain. This is there most recent and most pop-influenced cd yet. They went so far as to release a discoteca version of "Agustito" for one of the infinite summer hits cd's. Check out "Mienteme," "El Lago" (a Triana remake-the Pink Floyd of Spain), and "Soledad" which has a villancico sound to it. The rest are all rumba-pop but as always, all have great rhythms, Antonio Carmona's perfect voice, and nothing to do with the Latin music wave sweeping America and thousands of cheesy European discotecas resembling Menthos commercials (guilty as charged). If you want to hear their more pure flamenco cd's, check out Ketama, Canciones Hondas, and Es Ke Me Han Kambiado Los Tiempos. After that, they lost lead singer Jose Soto who was the traditional flamenco anchor of the band. If you want more of the best new music from Spain, again, nothing like you hear coming out of Puerto Rico, Mexico City, LA, San Antonio, or NYC, then look for La Nina Pastori or Pata Negra. If anyone wants to talk about this amazing group (or if anyone knows a flamenco guitar instructor in Napoli) feel free to write.

O.K. So this "gitano" (gypsy) group from Spain prefers to substitute 'K' for 'Q' and hard 'C' in all of their lyrics. I think that we'll allow them poetic license here. This is the kind of album that you will like the first time you hear it. Mind you, all of their music usually has this effect on most audiences. Flamenco and latin jazz coalesce in a most unique and tasteful manner that even non-Spanish speaking listeners will feel that they understand the lyrical themes of the songs. Usually, I have a hard time deciding whether I should sit back and enjoy the beautiful melodies or get up and dance! Strangely, this group, which is immensely popular in Spain, is relatively unknown in Latin America. Seems like Latin America has some "Katching" up to do.

Generations of flamenco musicians back up this Spanish "New Flamenco" or "Flamenco Fusion" group, and it is evidenced in the singing style of Carmona and the guitar work of his fellow musicians. There is plenty of additional instrumentation and varied musical style, however, making the sound found here of a genre that is difficult to pinpoint, but each piece is satisfying in its own right. The songs range from lyrical to latin dance remix in tone and character, but the lyrics are always interesting - sometimes even very poignant and poetic. There are flavors of flamenco, jazz, salsa, and more, and Caetano Veloso even shows for a solo part on one song, adding a taste of Brazil. For lovers of Latin music that are not purists about their genre, this music was refreshing when it first came on the scene and continues to please in its timelessness.

Ketama is certainly one of the best pop flamenco bands out there, providing lively and spirited rhythms & song (definitely more so than the french group Gypsy Kings - much more varied and experimental) This is an enjoyable listen to keep your heart soaring and body moving! ...BUT... to continue Mr. Napoli's suggestions for the PURE flamenco, the absolute No.1 best example is CAMARON de la ISLA! No competition, the idol and major influence of all the younger (& older) flamenco singers... and as found in his repetoire, he also covered the pop (rumba) market as well, but NOTHING beats the raw gut-wrenching intensity of his cante junto!

I give this album 4.5 ,not 5 nor 4.Increible salad of Flamengo, Bossa,and Cuban .Is like being in Seville looking to the PAN DE ASUCAR and having a DAIQUIRI .Vale Primo.....