There is an increasing number of bands from a wide variety of countries and cultural traditions blending the sounds of their ethnic music with breakbeats and electronica. But Ojos de Brujo take a somewhat different tack. They embrace the sounds of modern technology, but use those sounds sparingly, like a spice in the mix of their cross-cultural Spanish/Gypsy/flamenco stew. In a live setting, their devotion to tradition (or traditions) is even more obvious -- as is their phenomenal technical skill and the almost punky energy they generate on-stage. What makes that energy even more exciting is the fact that they don't sacrifice elegance and complexity to achieve it; instead, they just play fast and hard and they clap really, really loudly. Notice, for example, the combination of a jaggedly complicated rhythm, gorgeous sung melody, cool muted trumpet, and turntable on "Respira" -- not to mention the speed-rap interlude courtesy of Daara J MC Faada Freddy. Notice also their excellent arrangement of Bob Marley's "Get Up, Stand Up" which, to their credit, has not a hint of reggae about it (the studio version included here as a bonus track is even better than the live one). And notice their tendency to sometimes go just a bit over the top when they bring in the Middle Eastern vocal elements; "Todo Tiende" and "Tanguillos Marineros" are both fine songs that are marred somewhat by irritatingly overwrought melismatics. Overall, though, Techarí Live is a thrilling document of one of the world's finest groups at work.
© Rick Anderson /TiVo