Customer Reviews

Viva La Musica

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

 

 

to come out with a new CD you need to wait no longer. Buy this CD. Besides the great price this is as close as you are going to get to the GK sound. I might like it even better. Are you tired of bogus recommendations for other pseudo GK CDs ? If you are let me turn you on to another great group "Chico and the Gypsies". They also have an ex GK in their group. Vagaundo is good but look for the Nomade an import, 18 vs. 11 songs. I just looked and Vagabundo was listed "out of stock", if you like this sound don't let these get away.

I love this CD. In fact, I ended up visiting Amazon and writing this review because I was hoping to find a follow-up to this gorgeous CD. This CD is produced by the same british producers that made slick dance hits for Enrique Iglesias and Cher. Their gentle elegant dance beats work like magic under the passionate macho male flamenco vocals and the army of rythm spanish guitars. Buy this CD, you wont regret it.

I appreciate the basis on guitars that is missing in most music. Gipsyland is fresh and innovative. For a first album they have done a very good job. I am hoping not to be disappointed by their second album when it comes out. I happen to enjoy well played guitar music along these lines. This hit the spot. Nice inclusion of subject matter as well. Kiko does have a close sound to Nicolas Reyes, lead singer to the Gipsy Kings, but I find Kiko's vocals a bit more vibrant perhaps it was the backup music. Nice inclusion of the traditional hand clapping accompanyment but with a new flare. The guitars seemed to blend and support any drumms or other instruments there by giving the listener a feel for the background from which this music arose. The history of a Flamenco background is obvious even though this is not a strictly Flamenco album. They were not trying to be Flamenco guitarists, but giving a new and interesting twist to an already rich style of music. I feel that this is a good album and look forward to more from this band.

"Viva La Musica" is the debut album for the band "Gipsyland." Although the majority of the band members are younger relatives of the French international superstars "The Gypsy Kings" The lead singer of the "Gypsy Kings" lends his brilliant vocal power to a number of the songs. This album is not simply another Gypsy Kings album which could disappoint some people. The music of "GipsyLand" is basically vibrant pop with none of the traditional Flamenco passion with its Moorish inspired harsh canto jondo. This is a studio sound robbed of the rough immediacy of the intimacy of the tabloa. Which the "Gypsy Kings" who I have seen in concert twice could reproduce even in a space as huge as the "Royal Albert Hall" in London. The band's obvious target is a younger audience which indicates a strong fusion appeal after all Flamenco music already has many of these cross cultural elements in place.. However sacrificing depth for eclectic flourishes has a tendency to reduce the GipsyLand sound into a confusing sea of overproduction. Overall a good if somewhat bland in parts.

Go buy this CD! Every song is great! Just listened to the first two tracks at the store and I knew I had to have them. Wonderful... just have to dance to this music! If they do not tour the USA, I'll fly to France to see them!

I give this album two stars based on one quick listening: it could work for you if you are looking for "soft" flamenco (as in "soft rock") or background music. For me, "soft" or neo-music too often eviscerates the music without adding anything original. This album epitomizes neo-flamenco: there's not much to dislike nor to really like. All the cuts sound similar: vapid guitar work and nondescript vocals. Imagine the Gipsy Kings without the grit and soul (of course, I realize that GL's leader was the lead touring vocalist for the GKs, but I find that he doesn't shine here). I'll venture that this album was overproduced by someone with minimal knowledge of flamenco as there are gimmicky uses of synthetic special effects, and it's too high on the pop scale for my taste.

Are all Gipsyland's albums like this? I'd gladly give another one a listen if this were the outlier. I say this because there are quality personnel here; if GL were to commit themselves more, to take more risk to distinguish themselves, they could probably create something more interesting. Separately, the GKs are a pretty unique band; even though they use drum kits and intermittent pop devices, there's originality and passion in the vocals; I can smell the smoke, feel the tragedy and the joy. Not so on GL's first.

I've owned this CD for quite a while now and I always go back to it. Very good if you love Flamenco.