La Baula – Cançons a l’ombra (Segell Microscopi, 2025)
La Baula’s debut album, Cançons a l’ombra brings thirteen obscure Catalan traditional songs back to life through inventive new arrangements. Carefully sourced from historical songbooks and archival recordings, the lively album bridges past and present to celebrate and revitalize northeastern Spain’s musical heritage.
Produced by Arnau Burdó, the collection draws from materials such as Les cançons de Mataró; the unpublished Cansons y Follíes populars (gathered near Montserrat); Cançoner de l’Empordà; and the Joan Tomàs i Parera archive, as well as field recordings by Pau Benítez of singer Magda Capdevila i Marzo. These rare pieces, long overlooked, are presented with a renewed contemporary folk energy using a mix of traditional Iberian and western classical instruments aimed at engaging contemporary audiences.
La Baula features six accomplished musicians, each with a background in folk and roots traditions:
- Roger Andorrà – Clarinet, gralla, tarota, percussion, vocals. A musicologist and prolific collaborator, he leads the Electrogralla project and has contributed to more than 20 albums.
- Pau Benítez – Flabiol, accordion, percussion, vocals. A dedicated multi-instrumentalist and producer, he has worked with ensembles like La gravetat de Coulomb and released several solo and collaborative works.
- Patri Garcia – Vocals, percussion, shruti box. A versatile singer and educator with experience in both folk and gospel traditions, she currently leads the music department at the Pere Tarrés Foundation.
- Xavier Rota – Vocals, guitar, percussion.
- Roser Serrano – Tenora, violin, percussion, vocals.
- Joan Tomàs – Double bass, vocals.
Guest musicians include Martí Villegas on fiscorn (bass flugelhorn) and Jordi Inglès “Bero” (Ibizan castanets), adding texture to selected tracks.
The album was recorded in Gurb (Barcelona) during autumn 2024. Technical credits include Burdó (production, recording, editing, mixing), Ferran Conangla (mastering), and Arnau Cristóbal of Virus Cultural (photography and management). Graphic design was handled by Clara Ballesta, with linguistic revisions by Anna Martínez and Jordi Quintana. All arrangements are by La Baula.
Buy Cançons a l’ombra.
Author: Iliana Cabrera
