BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2011 Howe Gelb and a Band of Gypsies: Alegrias (Fire)

 |   |  1 min read

Howe Gelb and A Band of Gypsies: The Hangin' Judge
BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2011 Howe Gelb and a Band of Gypsies: Alegrias (Fire)

The enormously prolific Howe Gelb (interviewed here in depth) is behind the Tucson band Giant Sand (from which Calexico became a more commercially successful split-off) and has also recorded a dozen albums under his own name.

And as a reissue programme of about 30 Sand/Gelb albums starts to filter through he also releases this, a beguiling project which saw him taking his dark vocals, mysterious lyrics and jazzy piano playing to Cordoba in Spain (which he says is very like Tucson) to work with a group of flamenco master musicians, including Raimundo Amador who has worked with Bjork.

The only common language Gelb and the Spanish musicians had was music.

So here the quietly dramatic sound of flamenco guitars and rhythms are married to Gelb's elliptical lyrics, and the result is exciting and exotic (the heel-clacking Cowboy Boots on Cobble Stone) or seductively surreal (the whispery Blood Orange and Always Horses Coming) and Gelb's baritone has a deep resonance like a country-flavoured Leonard Cohen.

Gelb's mysteriously evocative poetics, occasional angular piano playing and some sublime, understated guitar work – as well as female backing voices in places – add other dimensions to an album which sounds gently baked under the Andalusian sun and is being served at sunset when the sky goes red and cooling wine is poured.

Something quite special, and beautifully packaged too.

Like the sound of this? Then check out that interview with Howe Gelb here.

FOR OTHER 'BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2011' ALBUMS GO HERE

Share It

Your Comments

AngelaS - May 16, 2011

Yes, would sardonic be the word? liked it.

Angela s - Jan 10, 2012

And having listened to some more, I'd now say - love it so going out to find some more.

post a comment

More from this section   Music at Elsewhere articles index

Aaradhna: Treble and Reverb (Frequency)

Aaradhna: Treble and Reverb (Frequency)

Although critics and commentators will inevitably, and rightly, point out the influence of Amy Winehouse in a couple of place on this, Aaradhna's third album, that doesn't change the fact that this... > Read more

IN BRIEF: A quick overview of some recent international releases

IN BRIEF: A quick overview of some recent international releases

With so many CDs commanding and demanding attention Elsewhere will run this occasional column which scoops up releases by international artists, in much the same way as our SHORT CUTS column... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

ENRICO RAVA AND NEW YORK DAYS: The trumpet calls the faithful

ENRICO RAVA AND NEW YORK DAYS: The trumpet calls the faithful

It’s disappointing and embarrassing that one encounter may put you off a musician for such a long time. Then, shame-faced, you crawl your way back later and have to concede everybody else was... > Read more

Buffy Sainte-Marie: Coincidence and Likely Stories (1992)

Buffy Sainte-Marie: Coincidence and Likely Stories (1992)

There are three distinct but overlapping public faces of the great Native American singer/songwriter Buffy Sainte-MarieSainte-Marie: the woman who wrote and sang Universal Soldier and the theme to... > Read more