Las Lunas de Astarté (Bujío Producciones, 2008)
Based in Jerez (Andalusia, Spain), La Jambre explores and recovers the rich folk music tradition of the Jerez region, the province of Cadiz and other Andalusian territories. The ancient folk songs are brilliantly transformed with the use of global beats and acoustic instruments from other parts of the world and traditions as well as electric instruments, such as fretless bass.
The fascinating song selection includes ballads and Christmas songs that breathe new life with the help of a remarkable collection of woodwinds, percussion and stringed instruments. Some of the lesser known instruments include the local gaita gastoreña (a single-reed clarinet), rociero whistle, dulzaina (a Spanish double reed instrument in the oboe family), Turish baglama and Tibetan singing bowls.
The title of the album makes reference to the Phoenician goddess Astarte, the goddess of love, nature, fertility, and carnal pleasure. Astarte was revered by other ancient cultures under different names: Venus, Maya, Aphrodite, and Ishtar. The Phoenicians established colonies in what is now Spain’s Cadiz province and their legacy has been the subject of fascination by many artists in the region.
The beautifully packaged CD comes with Spanish language descriptions about the origins of the songs.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
