Mas Raices Por Favor
Enrique Torres | San Diegotitlan, Califas | 11/15/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"A little dissappointing on first listen but it has grown on me. The Ketama I was looking for in this new release was Ketama the innovators of days gone by. I first heard these guys when they were featured on a CD entitled" The Young Flamencos"(Los Jovenes Flamencos) and was impressed with the direction they were taking tradional flamenco. Like the "Gipsy Kings" their sound is roots bound but is incorporating other elements to reach a vast audience, alas , pop acceptence. I wish they would just play, return to the true art form of flamenco and forget the diversions. Don't get me wrong this is beautiful music, exqusite at times, romantic, jazzy, rap-ish, samba-ish but always very polished. At times you'd think you were listening to Astrud Gilberto's flamenco album. Maybe it's just the fact that it was recorded in Rio. Sometimes a diamond in the rough is best. They seem to have lost the hard cutting edge they were on the threshhold of exploiting and have settled for mass appeal. When the vocals hinge on the crossover I wish they would go over to the other side and get guttural and forget the chorus more fiting for an r&b song. These songs remind me an experiment gone awry, still retaining the original beauty of it's shape but starting to change into something hardly recognizeable. Almost like processed corn being recalled. Now after 5 or 6 listens I like it more but still have the same problems with the music, more flamenco less everything else. When the vocalist wants to you can hear that voice go true "cancion ondo" but the passion is drowned out by the excursions into other territories. I like it, don't love it and I suppose it will grow on me even more. It really is quite beautiful at times just not enough of the time. If my review sounds confused it's because that is the way the CD is, confusing, puzzling because it is so beautiful yet so blase at the same time. Innovative and reaching for new grounds for flamenco but what's wrong with tierra firme? All in all a good listen but a CD in search of a true identity."
Not so bad...
ivan erickson | usa | 08/28/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I have been kindof stuck on ketama too for a while. I did not like the turn they have take towards pop. I thought Sonhai I and II were brilliant. The lyrics on this record are so empty they make me want to turn it off. Their music though, continues to intoxicate me. I am leaning more towards the sarcasm of Martires or the daring spirit of Pata Negra. Or better yet the cohesiveness of Radio Tarifa. I wish ketama would get a little more serious about it all."
Pop Flamenco...but
Joshua D. Levy | 10/21/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Ketama is certainly one of the best pop flamenco bands out there, providing lively and spirited rhythms & song (definitely more so than the french group Gypsy Kings - much more varied and experimental) This is an enjoyable listen to keep your heart soaring and body moving! ...BUT... to continue Mr. Napoli's suggestions for the PURE flamenco, the absolute No.1 best example is CAMARON de la ISLA! No competition, the idol and major influence of all the younger (& older) flamenco singers... and as found in his repetoire, he also covered the pop (rumba) market as well, but NOTHING beats the raw gut-wrenching intensity of his cante junto!"
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1