Album Details

• Artist: Various Artists
• Album: Putumayo Presents Espana
• Label: Putumayo
• Year of Release: 2009
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2010-01-21

Taking on the seemingly daunting task of a quick survey of all the styles and sounds of Spain, Putumayo does so yet again. "Putumayo Presents Espana," while most likely not representative of all the music of a land influenced by natives, Arabs, Jews, African and Latin rhythms, etc, provides a hot, solid comp of some of the best.

From traditional Flamenco and Rumba, to Barcelona's mestizo (mixed) movement (a blend of pop, jazz, and traditional sounds), this set also features the likes of the Afro-Cuban influenced El Combolinga, and the Basque poet Xabier Lete. Other highlights include Depedro's "Como El Viento, " a horn driven bossa nova; Gertrudis' "Remedios, " an acoustic rumba, and Uxia's "Danza Ritual, " a smoky ballad full of that inexpressible sexy sadness the Spanish call Duende. Likewise, the trebly dance tune "Linita" by Calima and the more tead Flamenco of Peret's "Para Poder Olvidaria" are memorable. A fine example of Mestizo is the hot "Por Los Besos Que Me Das" by Burgitos.

"Putumayo Presents Espana" hits all the right notes: sexy, sweet, melancholy, all with a diverse but confident mix of the many styles brough to Spain from the region and beyond. Sometimes it seems like Putumayo put out too many releases, yet all of them are vital. This one is in particular.

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