Codigo de Barros – An Iberian Roots Project (2014, international release: ARC Music EUCD 2566, 2014)
This critic never tires of well-done musical tours of nations, regions or cultures, and they are a particular strength of the ARC label. This “bar code” project by producer El Naan is somewhat unique in being not only a geographical, but a historical tour of the Iberian Peninsula as well. The release is a celebration of the musical melting pot that Spain has been over the centuries.
Were music an element on the periodic tables, it would be known for characteristics of resilience, self-healing and being soluble in just about everything. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Iberian Peninsula. While conflicting ethnic groups were being slaughtered, deported and tortured, their music continued to circulate freely, blending and weaving with whatever other elements they encountered.
Old Celtic stock, Arab, and Jewish rhythms and instruments met in Spain, not far from bloody swords, and the pot was stirred by economic and other factors of daily life. Codigo de Barros features sounds from that of pouring wine to beating a frying pan with a metal mortar to electric guitar and bass, saxophone, bouzouki and charango lutes, Spanish square frame drum, congas, flute, karkabas metallic castanets, Yoruba bata drums, tambourine, marimba and sickle.
One pleasantly experiences the roots and the fruits of Afro-Cuban jazz, flamenco, tango and even calypso and hears a close cousin to the Celtic music that is the foundation for American folk.
This sounds like a big challenge of a project. It is, but it works and works well. Recommended for homes and in vehicles on long trips.
Buy Codigo de Barros – An Iberian Roots Project in North America
Buy Codigo de Barros – An Iberian Roots Project in Europe
Author: Arthur Shuey
Arthur has been reviewing music for publications since 1976 and began focusing almost exclusively on world music in 2012.
His musical background includes past presidencies of the Cape Fear Musicians Association and Blues Society of the Lower Cape Fear, founding membership in nine other blues societies, service on 17 music festival planning committees, two decades of teaching harmonica to individuals and groups, operating a small recording studio and performing solo and in combos for 30 years.
Arthur has written professionally since 1975, pieces ranging from short fiction to travel articles, humor to poetry, mainly for local and regional entertainment media. His blog,” Shuey’s World,” is featured at www.accesswilmington.com.
