Jesús Guerrero has finally released his first solo album. If I remember correctly some members (Rombsix, siliconsoniquete etc) asked for streaming links :
The production is good. Not to much reverb on the guitar. However the cante parts are a bit overprocessed. Some really good compositions were also killed by ****ty arrangements.
The album has 9 tracks with differents palos :
The opening track is an Alegrias : "La Carraca". Really nice Alegrias with great falsetas.Virtuoso playing for sure !
Second track is a rondeña. The first part is with a free tempo, great tremolo in there. Around the fourth minute,The second part begins with a 3/4 compas. Great track.
Hurry is not really a "flamenco" track. I'm not a fan of this track, not because it is not flamenco but I find it a bit ordinary. However the guitar parts are well done with great harmonies.
El principio de todas las cosas is a "weird" track. It is a solo composition, you can hear children speaking, laughing in the background at the beginning and at the end. Not the highlight of the album for sure.
Anne Frank was the first song released before the album with a video clip :
The cante parts are done Alba Carmona who I think is his wife. I find the compostion in itself really great, maybe a bit too much processing on the voice. Quite catchy in a good sense. Not really flamenco either but I don't mind.
Calma is a nice granaina.
Calle del Carmen is the only bulerias of the album. A modern one for sure with great soniquete : I like it ! The cante parts are by Nina Pastori.
Café noir is the rumba of the album. Once again the composition is really great but the arrangement with the other instruments is not well done (I'm a big fan of drums but it does not really work in a flamenco context or maybe with brushes). I will recommand the "light version" that you can find on youtube which is really GREAT (xirdneH_imiJ you should transcribe this one !)
The melody is catchy (it is a rumba) but in a good sense. Great arpeggios. A very beautiful rumba composition (for one time we are avoiding the typical rumba pattern) but like I said the album version is awful if you compare it to the youtube version. What a pity.
I dont really know what I have to say about the last track not really memorable in my opinion.
sim999, fantastic review. I think I agree with every one of your statements.
It does feel like he was holding back a bit on this album. Clearly such a talented player, he could have easily done a couple more interesting pieces. But still good!
