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I don't know how long it's been available, but the last recording of Fernando Terremoto hijo was officially released over the weekend (I think the title is "Terremoto"). I haven't got it yet, but I've heard some of the tracks a few times at a local bar, and it sounds really good, especially the siguiriya. According to an Internet site, the musicians are:
Fernando Terremoto: cante Manuel Parrilla: guitarra Manuel Valencia: guitarra Alfredo Lagos: guitarra Israel Galván: zapateado José Quevedo Bolita: guitarra Antonio Higuero: guitarra Piruchi Apo: voz Rubem Dantas: percusión Diego del Morao: guitarra Bernardo Parrilla: violín Moraíto: guitarra
The site offering the above data indicates 11 tracks on the CD, but I thought I saw 12 tracks on the copy that I examined. I'm going to try to buy it today and will post more later.
RE: Fernando Terremoto (hijo): posth... (in reply to NormanKliman)
It took most of yesterday to find it, but I bought the CD and listened to it last night at home on the couch. This is a very long post, but it was worth writing.
BUY THIS RECORDING!!! No matter what you do, PLEASE DON'T DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE!!! I imagine that it will eventually end up on the Internet. If you buy it, Fernando's family will receive their share of the proceeds and I've heard from a reliable non-flamenco source that they could use the money. I bought two copies and plan on giving one to anyone who has enough afición but not enough money, and I urge everyone to do the same. Intentions aside, this is an excellent CD!
Some background information: Fernando started recording this in 2008 but had to stop because of a brain tumor. After surgery he tried to finish it (adding the siguiriya and the malagueña, according to one source), but relapsed and died early this year. Apparently, it was a personal project of his, the end result of which was to be "the recording that he'd always wanted to make." A few days ago, I read an interview with a family member who said that the recording is important because of its contribution to the development of flamenco, and that's when I started to realize that there was more to this CD than traditional cante. As I mentioned in my first post, I'd only heard it a few times in a noisy bar over the weekend. Through a friend of mine who was very close to Fernando, I've learned that he was still a very talented guitarist until the end (there's a home video of Fernando playing bulerías in C sharp Phrygian (standard tuning without capo) just a month before he died) and that he wrote excellent letras, in addition to being a decent human being.
This recording has something for everyone: straight-on traditional cante, "light" flamenco, experimental flamenco, unusual instrumentation, excellent letras and more, all delivered by one of the strongest and most emotive voices in the history of flamenco. Top-notch musicians and beautifully recorded, too (no annoying reverb anywhere on this recording).
1. Viento de Levante (soleá por bulería). Just guitar and voice, with Manuel Parrilla.
2. Cortinitas de humo (liviana-serrana). Very interesting track; basically a toná, a serrana and another toná, but some of the sung lines of verse seem to have bits and pieces of other cantes (I thought I heard a bit of a bambera, but I'm going to have to study this one). Starts off slow and somber with just Fernando singing, but strange background noises start to creep in toward the end of the first cante. The credits for this track include "footsteps" by Fernando (sounds like he's walking through a field, stepping on dry weeds) and "rusty coffee grinder" by the producer Gecko Turner (squeaking sound). The guitars (Alfredo Lagos and Manuel Valencia) come in at this point and the rest of the track has a strong siguiriyas compás. Isreal Galván adds rhythmic footwork. Fascinating experiment with traditional cantes and intelligent use of musical details that are common to several different cantes.
3. Nadie lo sepa. Bright and refreshing modern tango with background vocals. Musicians include Diego del Morao on guitar and Rubem Dantas on qraqueb. (I don't know what instrument that is or how to say it in English. ¿Estevan...?)
4. Malagueña. One of the best tracks on the CD. Standard traditional cante accompanied by one guitar (Antonio Higuero), with an "opening" granaína and the malagueña del Mellizo, but they recorded the first cante to make it sound like an old recording on the radio or something and the second cante was recorded normally (sounds crystal clear and modern). Both cantes, no matter who sings them, evoke a strong sense of nostalgia, so the artistic statement "from yesterday to today" comes off very well, IMO. What really strikes me is the level of excellence from both artists. Not a single wasted note or even a moment for your mind to drift. Tight focus all the way through. It reminded me of someone wringing out a wet towel or something, squeezing out all the emotion with greater and greater force right down to the end.
5. Pasajeros en el tiempo. Orchestrated bulería with guitar (José Quevedo Bolita and Diego del Morao), mandola (Diego del Morao), bass, percussion and even a trumpet. Smooth and sophisticated with interesting harmonies. Sounds morose like a rainy Wednesday (in late February).
6. Cayo negro (Pa poquitos de dulce). By far the most interesting and unusual track on the CD. Fernando sings a series of tonás and, at the same time, we hear interjections of African singing from a woman named Piruchi Apo. Sometimes her singing responds to his, sometimes we hear both intertwined, and sometimes her voice is multitracked in lush harmony. The letra seems to be a testimony to the hardships of African emmigrants (many die every year crossing the Mediterranean trying to get to Spain). Piruchi Apo is apparently from Equatorial Guinea and was born on the island of Bioko (formerly known as Fernando Poo). She and her niece formed the duo Las Hijas del Sol. She's currently a resident in Madrid and has a new recording that was released yesterday 5 October.
7. Cambalache (versión por bulerías). A well-known and often recorded Argentine tango written in 1934. The lyrics are about the corruption of society, although there are references to historic figures that Fernando changes for the names of legendary flamenco singers. Despite the serious nature of the lyrics, the overall sound is breezy and optimistic. Nice ambience from the harmonica of Antonio Serrano (the guy in Paco's group). Arrangement by Alfredo Lagos, with Alfredo and Diego del Morao on guitar.
8. 24 de Agosto (fandango waltz). The mood is similar to that of track 5 but with a different rhythm (sounds almost abandolao, but without the galloping effect). Very nice harmonies and melodic twists. Diego del Morao on guitar and Bernardo Parrilla on violin.
9. Caballitos y perillos (siguiriyas). Traditional cante accompanied by one guitar (Manuel Valencia). Incredibly good singing and accompaniment. The high point of the CD, in my opinion.
10. Fiesta por bulerías de Jerez. Excellent performance from Fernando, Moraíto and the howling horde of Jerez palmeros, some of whom you've seen in videos. Very interesting falsetas and accompaniment from Moraíto. (A friend said that he hasn't heard him accompany this well in years.)
11. Luz en los balcones (bulería). This is the bulería that he sings in this video: Alfredo Lagos and Manuel Valencia on guitars, just like in the video, along with bass, cajón, background vocals and clapping. Fernando wrote the letras.
12. Canastera. Inspired version of Paco's composition. This is the 12th track that isn't indicated on some websites.
BUY THIS RECORDING!!! Available here among other sources.
RE: Fernando Terremoto (hijo): posth... (in reply to Guest)
Nealf, are you sure that the $30 price isn't for the CD + shipping? The disk is mounted on a single piece of plastic (half of the classic plastic jewel case) which is glued onto a three-part cardboard container ("wings" on either side of the CD). It feels very light in my hand. It's selling on the Internet for less than 15 euros and shipping costs should be less than 10 euros.
I'll try to stop gushing, but I just want to make it clear that I have no vested interest in this CD. It really is one of the best recordings I've heard in many years. I never met Fernando, I don't know anyone in his family, and until now I've never really listened to his recordings (although I always knew he was good).
Posts: 797
Joined: Jun. 1 2010
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia
RE: Fernando Terremoto (hijo): posth... (in reply to NormanKliman)
Yes, thanks to Norman for the great review!
Maybe we can get a few of us together with a multiple order and split the shipping costs? I suppose whomever receives the package would have to take responsibility for mailing them out to everyone. I wouldn't mind doing this at all - for example, 10 copies including shipping to me in Canada would be 158EUR (approx $220US, or $22US/ea) as the combined shipping cost for 10 to North America is 37,95EUR - I'm not sure what the import duties and taxes would be, plus you have the cost for mailing to each person. I dunno, just a thought. Might be less expensive in the end to have someone is the US take care of it.
RE: Fernando Terremoto (hijo): posth... (in reply to NormanKliman)
quote:
It's selling on the Internet for less than 15 euros and shipping costs should be less than 10 euros.
Unfortunately the shipping costs to North America from El Flamenco Vive start at €20.20 and from Deflamenco €22. The problem is that for overseas orders they give you no choice but send everything by courier. This means that you might also incur an additional "brokerage fee" of about $25 when the stuff arrives, as well as duty.
After going through this a few times I gave up on ordering stuff from Spain, and unless a disc becomes available through a major distributor, my solution is to be patient and wait until the next all-too rare visit to Madrid.
RE: Fernando Terremoto (hijo): posth... (in reply to ralexander)
It is available on itunes in the UK for £8.99. It may also be on US itunes. The artists still get their royalty money this way but we pay no cost for shipping, warehousing or material product.
If you don't mind not having a cd. I only listen to music these days on ipod or computer so I don't mind. An external harddrive back up is better than a cd, which often scratch and don't work. Anyone remember when cd's came out and were advertised as indestructible?! Also it means I can buy flamenco cd's by the track and therefore avoid the cheesy rumbas and flute/harmonica/pop tracks. Lots of modern cante cd's have half tracks I love and half I can't listen to.
Thanks as ever Norman for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm.
RE: Fernando Terremoto (hijo): posth... (in reply to Guest)
quote:
Just a thought but if they're in bad shape financially maybe a foro fundraising drive is in order (I believe it was done before many years ago for another flamenco artist). If each member (who wants to) contributes $2 it would add up very quickly.
nealf,
Ramin of Flamenco-Teacher along with Estela (Zata) tried that a couple of years back when Parilla de Jerez had a major stroke which ended his working career.
I think the total collection presented to the family was maybe $400 of which Ramin put in $300 himself 'cos he was too effing embarrassed.
Get in the real world man...the level of apathy is amazing.
It's the Internet...everything should be free!
Anyways, folk don't have the time right now, or don't have a paypal account etc etc etc..but hey..they think it's a great idea and support it 100%!
Finally, it doesn't really matter anyway, because everyone else will surely contribute..
Posts: 528
Joined: Nov. 10 2008
From: Helsinki, Finland
RE: Fernando Terremoto (hijo): posth... (in reply to NormanKliman)
I got the cd for christmas and its very good. It has lots of material and its made with good taste. I can understand Normans enthusiasm about the disc What I like about the cd is that Terremoto sings and the musicians play with such a pure flamenco sound and feeling and in the same time it succees to be very fresh. Its highly recommendable!
Posts: 14855
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Fernando Terremoto (hijo): posth... (in reply to NormanKliman)
quote:
It really is one of the best recordings I've heard in many years. I never met Fernando, I don't know anyone in his family, and until now I've never really listened to his recordings (although I always knew he was good).
cool thanks for the review. "Cosa natural" with moraito l was one of the first albums I ever owned that got me into cante. It was helpful at the time all the lyrics were printed in the sleeve. I was always really into his bulerias and Malagueñas. I have to say that I got into his father much later, and now feel that he sang as good as for most styles, but not really better then his father. But the exception is the malagueña which I think is what put him on the map as he won an award for it and it launched his career. He really fleshed it out compared to how his dad did it, and it is the one cante I think he stands apart from his father.
I read an interview with him from that same time and it was a funny story how he started singing by his own account. He was a pro guitarist, accompanying singers for years, and said he NEVER sang in his life before. Then he was acting very strange for a week or so and at a festival the singer he was to accompany said he wanted to warm up and Fernando said "no, tonight I am the singer!!!" and that was it! So he sang and sounded just like his dad, as if by magic or spirit possession. Funny story, I can only wonder who was the singer and how he reacted to such a thing from his guitarist! LOL
He sings some of his best stuff from Cosa Natural with Moraito in Moraito's instructional video. I learned a lot just from that section, including the half compas remate for bulerias which moraito explains right off is simply the way they do it in Jerez. So that was some years ago that I felt he was one of the best singers of all time. But over the years I have not kept up with him, and have since gotten more into his dad and more antiguo jerez singers. I am glad he was able to put this final recording out and will try my best to obtain it soon!
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