Techari (W/Cdrom) (Dig)

Price 16.29 - 18.98 USD

EAN/UPC/ISBN Code 657036113121

Manufacture Six Degrees Records

Manufacture Country USA

The Barcelona-based nuevo-roots outfit is back with a third entertaining, anarchistic yet wildly danceable amalgam. The rousing guitar of Ramón Giménez and sinuous, Moorish-tinged vocals of Marina "la Canillas" Abad are wreathed in handclaps and percussion, plus scathing brass charts, remarkably creative scratching, beats and other electronic embellishments. There are also flurries of quotes from a far-flung array of traditions outside their own, such as reggae and rap, but the band"s antic inclusiveness never derails their individuality or adulterates the heritages of their collaborators. After all, their hometown is one of Europe"s great musical hotbeds, in which flamenco, rumba Catalana and other local styles are often fused with whatever is at hand or just arrived. Guest stars this time out include Faada Freddy from the Senegalese hip-hop collective Daara J, Indian fusioneers Prithpal Rajput and Nitin Sawhney, and Cuban pianist Roberto Carcàsses. From nearer home, Flamenco guitar legend Pepe Habichuela and Spanish singing star Martirio sit in, along with tres and guitar master Raúl Rodrígues of Son de la Frontera, another band with fervent global leanings, this time toward Cuba. The lush packaging includes a CD-ROM containing videos, lyric translations, works by fourteen illustrators and other extras. --Christina Roden