DIEGO DE MORÓN

My second musical passion is flamenco, the ethnic music from Andalusia, the poor but beautiful, Morish influenced region in Southern Spain. So I embrace every attempt from a progrock band to blend prog with flamenco (like Triana, Cai and Mediana Azahara) or every flamenco artist who invites progrock musicians to make music (like Juan Martin with his excellent album "Picasso portraits" featuring Tony Hymas and Simon Phillips). On this album flamenco guitarist Diego De Moron is accompanied by members from the known Spanish progrock bands Triana and Granada, a very promising combination! Don't expect music like Triana, Cai or Mediana Azahara, this music is less symphonic, the focus is on the art of the flamenco guitar. But if you are up to flamenco and progressive rock, Diego De Moron delivers wonderful and often very exciting music. The album contains eight tracks, four with contributions from members from Triana and four with members from Granada. Diego plays the typical flamenco rhythms like Bulerias, Alegrias, Tarantas and Tangos, embellished with typical flamenco guitar techniques like picados (quick runs), tremolo (a trembling sound) and rasgueado (quick downward strokes with the fingers nails). At some moments you hear soaring strings and synthesizers, a very compelling musical experience! The highlight is the most symphonic track entitled "Despertar" (almost 8 minutes) featuring two members from Granada on keyboards: a lush synthesizer intro, followed by warm flamenco guitarplay, handclapping (palmas) and a beautiful string sound with a fine rhythm- section (drums/bass). Another good composition is "Suenos rotos" featuring the "Media granaina" (where Robby Krieger from The Doors based his guitarplay on during "Spanish caravan"): the intro has lush synthesizers and the climate is very moving because of the intricate flamenco guitarplay. IF YOU LIKE FLAMENCO AND PROGROCK, THIS CD IS A MUST!!