Best Of Flamenco, The - Various Artists

Advantages: Rustic, Powerful, Emotive
Disadvantages: None, unless you have a problem with late 70's sound quality

...the background to Saeta in Sevilla, but it seems to commemorate some kind of military lifestyle. Maybe a reflective piece about the war... Taranto and Provencal paint a pensive Carlos Montoya, deeply entranced into the magic of nostalgia. Very moving. Jerez kicks in with rasping strings, establishing itself as proud and traditional. Similar to Farruca in a way. Zapsteap is very much the same, containing jazzy ballads and interesting rhythm as well as Montoya's trademark rapidity. Extremely playful, once again. The final track, Macerna En Tango, is a follow-up to the previous Jerez and Zapsteap. Once more, the sections of tumbling strings will blow your mind away. I will conclude by saying that Carlos Montoya is one the best and most inventive Flamenco artists, alongside Juan Martin. This CD offers a perfect selection of his work and is worth ten... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Good rhythm to lift spirits
Disadvantages: Strong similarity between tracks

...After developing a liking for flamenco music, I encountered this interesting CD of Jesse Cook's. It's modern - mixing pop with flamenco rhythms and traces of arabic and indian sounds. It's a delight to hear the complementary sounds from different traditions in this artist's work. This collection of songs is a wonderful break from your typical popular radio fair. If no one is watching, you may be tempted to dance around your kitchen to the music in a break from washing the dishes. I often find myself humming the tune to the "Early on Tuesday Song" where the lyrics are about two people in love just going away one day, and leaving the hum-drum routeins behind (at least for a short time). The lyrics are good enough to cause some reflection - is my life really hum-drum? Maybe today's a good day to do something I really want to!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Totally worth the money, a must have album!
Disadvantages: This man has an addictive sound, you cant stop listening.

...Tom Baxter has to be one of the best break through singer/songwriters that i have heard for a very long while. Merging the styles of Flamenco, Rock and Folk, it is done very successfully indeed. Being the first artist to do this it is quite a combination of fine guitar riffs and a voice which is and CAN be compared to Jeff Buckley. From this album songs such as "Tell her Today" which has a beautiful Spanish influence and the chilling and very emotional "Half a Man" which can move even the most emotionless of humans, you also cant forget the ever so popular "Better" which got to be on the A playlist on Radio 2. Seeing this man live was also an amazing experiences everyone in the audience was moved by him and his tip top band.The shivers just didn't stop right until the end of the set. A must buy album and a must see performance!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful