The Bottom Line
Ojos de Brujo is a Spanish-Gypsy collective out of Barcelona, and Techari is their third album. You can never confuse Ojos with any other group, because their personal blend of flamenco fused with different world music is unique, finely textured and fascinating.
Techari is an album that's like taking that first taste of an exotic dish. The music bursts on the eardrums, wakes the brain up with a "what's this?" message, never fails to satisfy and leaves you wanting more.
Pros
- Flamenco fusion that holds true to itself, rather to any one genre
Cons
- Flamenco purists beware
Description
- 14 tracks of flamenco fusion
- Two disc set, including CD-ROM with video, photos, lyrics in 15 languages and 36 pg. booklet
- Released by Six Degrees Records
Guide Review - CD Review: Ojos De Brujo - Techari
Techari, the third album from Spanish-Gypsy collective Ojos de Brujo (Eyes of the Wizard) is a creative, passionate festival of sound. The group's flamenco roots are only the starting point for an album that mixes native rhythms with hip hop, rumba, tango, funk, jazz, world instruments and a joyous, free musical spirit - probably why they named their album Techari, which means 'free' in the Gypsy dialect of Calo (thanks to Ramon Gimenez, Ojo's flamenco guitarist and a gypsy by birth).
The collective is primarily from Barcelona, where they met and started making music together. Techari benefits from guest appearances by Cuban pianist Roberto Carasses, Faada Freddy from hip hop collective Daara J, Prithpal Rajput from the Asian Dub Foundation and Paul Rodriguez from Son de la Frontera, among others. With a musical lineup like this, you might be able to imagine the eclectic world fusion the group produces.
Or maybe not. "Todo Tiende", with Rajput playing the Indian dhol starts out with a distinctive Indian rhythm before the vocals of Marina Abad set you straight, along with that distinctive flamenco guitar - and then moves on to add hip hop. "Bailaores" starts out with a tropical rumba rhythm, then adds a brass note, always adding the fundamental sonic nuances of flamenco.
I could go on and describe every track, because there is no repetition in this album. Each track is unique; each track is a surprise with different beats, textures and instrumentation. If you get easily bored listening to the same thing, this is the album for you.
