Search - Radio Tarifa :: Fiebre

4 stars for fans, 3.5 for neutral observers...

Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 12/28/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This Spanish trio is one of the most creative and eclectic world music bands of recent vintage... This is a driving, dynamic live set that captures a more aggressive side of Radio Tarifa's sound, in particular a tilt toward jazz-tinged improvisation, and an emphasis on individual virtuosity and impassioned, in-the-moment performances. Personally, I'm more drawn to the moody melodic side that the group shows on its studio albums, but this album does show that they can summon a lot of live-action firepower as well, and aren't just another pretty-sounding world-music studio project. If you're a Tarifa fan already, you'll probably want to check this out."

Exciting, intense fusion of musics from India to Spain

Frank Camm | Northern Virginia | 03/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Exciting, intense. Audience participation just kicks it up a notch. More room for long improvisations than on a studio album, but most remains tight. An ever-varying fusion of Indian, Middle Eastern, Balkan, Arabic, Spanish, and rock idioms. Each track highlights a few, layering them or placing each in a distinct instrument. The fusion never homogenizes; rather, it juxtaposes in a way that reveals underlying connections. Tracks often break from one distinct style to another, and sometimes return or cycle-another form of effective juxtaposition. Vocal is typically world-weary. Drone woodwinds can deepen this; tight polyrhythms can throw it in sharp contrast. Many different elements offer lots of opportunities for varying textures, which the band exploits well. Precise notes on specific origins of each track mainly point to Spanish sources; sounds much more hybrid to me. [56:51]"

Authenticity pounded by theater

Joseph Greenman | Berlin, Germany | 12/08/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I own all four Radio Tarifa CDs, but I must admit that I don't like the live CD "Fiebre" at all. I listened to it 3-4 times and then put it away. Though other reviewers term it "exciting", to me it sounded like the individual musicians were trying too hard to "intensify" their solos for the sake of the on-stage performance.



I find that one of the beauties of live flamenco concerts - of which RT's style is a unquestionably a spinoff - is that the music is astoundingly "controlled", even the most fiery of solos. There's no Jimi Hendrix, playing with his teeth. In fact, the only "show-off" flamenco guitarist I've ever seen was a German. He's a great guitar player, but analytical, and someone who had clearly mastered his craft through study - definitely not "a natural". He compensated by hopping around on his chair while playing, but his "vibrancy" looked like the result of fire ants in his underpants, not hereditary soul.



In most of the solos in the Fiebre concert, I got the impression the musicians were "showing off" - appealing to the audience rather than focussing on their music - which is the antithesis of what I like.



If you want to try Radio Tarifa, buy Rumba Argelina. It's great, but it demonstrates the problem created by a fantastic first album: the group has a hard time living up to expectations. Imagine if Sergeant Pepper had been the Beatles' first!"