Ojos de Brujo Live - If you only ever see one Spanish band…
by Ben Curtis
It’s very rare that I will go to see a band play live if I’ve never heard any of their music (actually it’s pretty rare that I’ll see any band live at all these days…) But last night we were lucky enough to see Ojos de Brujo live in Madrid, and I didn’t know a single one of their songs before walking into Madrid’s La Riviera, one of the few decent small venues in the city. All we had was a recommendation from a friend, and high praise from the Guardian, who rightly hail the group as “one of the slickest and most exciting bands in Europe”.
Eleven or more band members take to the stage, including a drummer, percussionist, 2 acoustic guitars, a bassist (who performed mind-numbing feats of string slapping), the wild, rasta-haired lead singer (Marina), the singer-rapper-human-beat-box guy, who does vocal battle with the whacking feet of the flamenco dancer who changes dress between numbers, a fuzzy-haired trumpeter who is too cool - and good at the trumpet - to be true, the bloke with the decks and the synths who steps up front occasionally to harrass the audience into making more noise…
The result is the most incredible cacophony of sound I’ve ever heard, and a stage show that seems as brilliantly improvised as the finest jazz, and is 100 times more entertaining than going to the theatre.
They look like they are having the time of their life on stage, obviously love each other’s company and have huge respect for each other’s evident talents, but what exactly do they sound like? I suppose you could call it a unique fusion of flamenco, jazz, soul, rap, dance, Indian chill-out, funk, rock … I’ve never seen or heard a show like it.
Next time they tour your neck of the woods, get tickets.
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Posted: November 23rd, 2007 under Spanish Culture and News.
Comments: 10
Comments
Comment from leftbanker
Time: November 24, 2007, 12:05 pm
Great call on the music. I have been listening to them all morning. I have become quite a fan of flamenco-influenced music since I moved here. I’d love to see them if they are in Valencia any time soon.
My music tip for anyone interested is Glenn Gould’s playing of Bach’s English Suite #2 in A minor. After a hard drive crash this (and now Ojos de Brujo) is all the music I have on my laptop. I wish I could play this piece on the piano but I may have to wait for my next life when I come back with talent.
Comment from Parubin
Time: November 24, 2007, 1:46 pm
They are great. The power and energy the bring onstage is amazing. This is not pure flamenco of course. Just think more of it as Sly & the Family Stone meet Manu Chao and Camarón in his wildest nights.
Their albums are really good, but seeing them performing live is another experience.
Comment from Jon Hundt
Time: November 26, 2007, 5:23 pm
you kinda scared me there, Ben when you said “unique fusion of flamenco, jazz, soul, rap, dance, Indian chill-out, funk, rock”. Usually just the word “fusion” will send me running…
One of my complaints about the pop music I hear in Spain is that it is all SO BUSY! they play a lot of Latin-American-inspired stuff that just drives me nuts. It seems like everyone in the group (which apparently has 30 members) is playing full-on all the time, never a quiet spot for a breath of fresh air. And the rhythms are fascinating, of course - but after a while I don’t want to be fascinated any more, I just want to relax and hear some music.
This is all a personal opinion, of course, and nobody has to share it, or agree with me, or even care what I think!
But - I went to the Ojos de Brujo website and listened to some samples, and it was quite pleasant.
Comment from Ben
Time: November 26, 2007, 6:26 pm
I actually felt the same during the first two songs, that it was all a bit too much all at once, but then things calmed down and individual musicians took turns in taking the limelight more… then it was much better!
Comment from Graham Faul
Time: November 26, 2007, 6:51 pm
Glad you enjoyed it! It was a great show wasn´t it? Believe it or not, there were even more on stage when they played the London Roundhouse earlier this month (guests included a Cuban brass section, African Reggae singer and extra Flamenco singer and dancer!). La Riviera has a very similar atmosphere to the Roundhouse.
For all who can’t get along to a concert I recomend trying to get hold of the special edition of Techari Live, which includes a DVD of an amazing concert in Barcelona with the above guests and others.
Comment from ValenciaSon
Time: November 28, 2007, 1:04 pm
Can you suggest some of their songs for me to sample?
Comment from Ben
Time: November 28, 2007, 1:56 pm
We don’t actually know the song names!!! Just that they are great live… suppose we should get the CD now!
Comment from Palmer
Time: December 4, 2007, 9:22 pm
Ben, I just sampled some of their tunes on ITunes library and they are great! Now I am trying to decide which ones I want to purchase. And while we’re on the subject of music, I also am grateful for your mentioning Radio Head here on this site from time to time. I also sampled their music and find their music very appealing as well. Keep the recommendations coming!
Comment from Ben
Time: December 4, 2007, 10:51 pm
Glad you liked both! Try Belle and Sebastian, the Life Pursuit album next!
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