Alevanta!

Benjamín Escoriza
(Riverboat, TUG1044)

Alevanta! is the debut solo album of Granada-born vocalist and lyricist Benjamín Escoriza whose raw and distinctive voice led the ground breaking Spanish band Radio Tarifa to worldwide acclaim. Known for his blend of traditional North African music with flamenco, Latin rhythms and a pop sensibility, on this release Escoriza develops this powerful Latin-Arabian sound, exploring more acoustic and flamenco directions while continuing to delve into Spain's Moorish roots.
 

**** (four stars) '[a] stew of medieval, Moorish and flamenco influences’ The Independent On Sunday

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Urban Gypsy

Shukar Collective
(Riverboat, TUG1037)

The Shukar Collective was born in Romania from the meeting of new generation musicians with the gypsy traditions of Shukar founders Napoleon, Tamango and Clasic. Shukar play ursari music (ursar means 'bear tamer' or 'bear handler') using spoons, wooden barrels or darabuka to create a powerful and urgent sound that is at the same time emotional and soulful. Urban Gypsy combines Shukar's original ursari music with the new technology of the collective, resulting in their distinctive sound.
 

'Unclassifiable hybrid that is often funny, frequently exciting and sometimes bewildering.' Observer Music Monthly

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Sahara

Javier Ruibal
(Riverboat, TUG1030)

A highly regarded singer-songwriter from Cádiz, Javier Ruibal has created a new type of modern music that blends North African sounds with flamenco and other diverse influences. With the richest rhythms and harmony forming the basis of Sahara, Ruibal draws his inspiration from his love of life and beautiful women, resulting in lyrics dripping with fantastic tales and evocative Spanish poems of love. A well-kept secret beyond Spanish borders for far too long, this album is Javier Ruibal’s international debut.
 

**** (four stars) ‘A gutsy singer-songwriter and virtuoso guitarist.' The Guardian

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The Rough Guide To Gypsy Music (Second Edition)

Various
(Rough Guide, RGNET1220)

This Rough Guide celebrates the freedom of Gypsy nomadic life. Balkan brass, gypsy swing, flamenco and Romanian remix signpost the long road from past persecution to world recognition.

2xCD Special Edition - Featuring a bonus source CD by Bela Lakatos & The Gypsy Youth Project
 

'covers as comprehensive a range of modern Romani music as 14 tracks will allow' 4.5 stars The Weekend Australia

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The Rough Guide To Hungarian Gypsy Music

Various
(Rough Guide, RGNET1198)

Hungarian Gypsy (Roma) music is vibrant, passionate and brimming with colour, yet its songs reflect the hardships of daily life. From the camps and villages of rural Hungary, its popularity has swept around the world. The Rough Guide To The Music Of Hungarian Gypsies explores the Gypsy revival with leading artists including Ando Drom, Kalyi Jag, Romano Drom, and Parno Graszt.


‘A pleasant compilation.’ The Independent on Sunday

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The Rough Guide To Flamenco

Various
(Rough Guide, RGNET1189)

Flamenco is undoubtedly the most important musical-cultural phenomenon in Spain, and its huge resurgence in popularity has seen its profile reaching out far beyond its Andalucían homeland. Flamenco artists are creating work at the cutting edge while keeping firmly attached to ‘deep song’ roots. Powered by poetry and wit, evoking every emotion from despair to joy, melancholy to happiness, anger to serenity, doubt to pleasure, The Rough Guide To Flamenco (Second Edition) showcases this dramatic and passionate musical genre.


'Anybody wanting a quick immersion in all varieties of flamenco should get this.' The Independent On Sunday

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The Rough Guide To Flamenco Nuevo

Various
(Rough Guide, RGNET1170)

Flamenco is the emotionally charged and expressive Gypsy soul music of Andalucía, where each hand-clap is a scream from the heart and every heel-smack an act of defiance. Featuring stunning vocals and mesmerizing guitar-picking, this album seduces the listener with innovative developments on a genre that draws on the traditions of Moorish and Iberian music.


'A good summer soundtrack.’ Songlines

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The Rough Guide To The Music Of Balkan Gypsies

Various
(Rough Guide, RGNET1159)

The Gypsy Road stretches from Rajasthan, India to Andalucia, Spain and beyond, but it is the Balkan countries of Eastern Europe that are home to the largest Rom populations. Often scape-goated and caught in the middle of the twentieth century's worst injustices, from Belgrade to Bucharest to Skopje the Rom have had a profound impact on Balkan culture and music. Throughout the region, Gypsy music is Balkan music, transcending borders and ethnicities: energetic brass bands, violin and cimbolom virtuosos and captivating voices, The Rough Guide To The Music Of Balkan Gypsies has it all.


***** (five stars) 'The most popular world-music sounds of the late ‘90s are gathered here in one glorious melange.' The Independent on Sunday

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