Search - Juan Martin :: Picasso Portraits

A 1980's sound.

Bob Wilkinson | Coventry, W. Midlands Great Britain | 10/22/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Here we have a competent flamenco guitarist who shines because of his lateral imagination in arranging his music. I first heard this CD featured by Juan Martin himself during the early 80's - when he presented a short series on the BBC World Service. At the time I was enthralled, because he was doing something different to the flamenco genre - something imaginative, creative and quite unique. The music adds synthesisers to the guitar sounds and rhythms in a very evocative way, and is clearly inspired by one of the greatest artists in the 20th century. The guitar work fits in well - lyrical and intelligent, but lacking perhaps the fire of his contemporaries. Today, in a time when we have returned to authentic music, this album sounds less imaginative, because of the inclusion of these other sound scapes. But contextually, this remains a moving contribution to the spirit of music. The contrast with his more recent recordings - notably 'Musica Alhambra' which is truly magnificent, is interesting. (an album I would urge you to listen to) Today Juan Martin has left behind the synthesised, keyboard sounds which were once seen as so important, and instead has gone for the more authentic combinations of ude and guitar."