DANCING ON A COLD WIND

Carmen reminds me a lot of Trapeze, the little metal trio where Glenn Hughes (later of Deep Purple's fame) served as vocalist/bass player. Some of their songs are drenched in heavy metal. Viva Mi Sevilla starts as a heavy "fandango" with some amazing tapping by "bailaora" Angela Allen and hand clapping, and follows with some pure heavy metal or hard rock, characterized by heavy guitar interplay, thumping rhythm and accentuated bass lines; it's intro is probably the most representative of flamenco music. "I've Been Crying" has Angela as lead singer, and she has a great voice, although a bit forced at times; it also develops an interesting bridge (a sort of waltz, later accompanied with castanets and increasing tempo). "Drifting Along" has also a heavy rhythm and great vocal harmonies. "Purple Flowers" starts as a slow blues and amusing chorus, then we're in for a section in the middle in 7/8 and vocal harmonies a la Queen in the climax.

The sidelong suite called "Rememberances" is a collection of ditties revolving on a sort of frustrated love story, and is for me the best side of the album; "She's Changed" has amazing display of castanets, pan flutes and string arrangements, while "Dancing on a Cold Wind" features odd chord progressions when put together with the vocal harmonies. "Conclusion" reprises the main She's Changed theme with variations of F#, instead of the G# minor of the main theme. The same theme is also reprised in "Gypsy Girl", but in an instrumental mode; thus it gives a feeling of continuation through the entire side.

Perhaps the most notable member of the band is David Allen, while Glascock sets the rhythm greatly along with Fenton, Amaral and Karan. David Katz is an integral factor in the music with violin casting the "symphonic" sparks of Carmen's music, along with Angela's atmospheric mellotron (although I think she would had drawn attention on stage with the dancing, as well as her gorgeous presence). But the guitar, as always, is the main instrument in spanish folk music (second is the vocal). The lyrics might be the only real fault I would find in their music, as it doesn't really work in the musical context that they projected; the music, as such, works better accompanied with spanish lyrics. but you don't really need to appreciate the lyrics if only for listening to the amazing vocal deliveries.

But with all of that said, I don't enjoy their music as much as I thought I would, but I enjoyed it anyway. 3.5 stars rounded to 4

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