Spanish

Al Andalus – named for the historical Islamic civilisation of the Iberian peninsula, where Spanish and Arabic musical traditions first began their long conversation – captures that cultural crossroads beautifully. A classical nylon-string Spanish guitar drives the track with exhilarating speed and technical confidence, ornaments and runs flowing with the natural fluency of genuine flamenco influence. Castanets and maracas provide rhythmic punctuation with authentic character, and a subtle Eastern influence in the melodic choices reflects the Andalusian heritage the title invokes. The overall effect is simultaneously exciting and warm – the sonic equivalent of a sun-drenched landscape with something interesting happening in the shade.