La Vida Llega

This album heralds a double return: Pepe Luis’ reappearance after his time as singer with the flamenco-pop band La Barbería del Sur. And, equally importantly, that the record label Nuevos Medios is back. Known as flamenco's Tamla Motown and a key player in the ‘nu flamenco’ style, many believed the label defunct after the death of owner Mario Pacheco. But with his daughter Maria at the helm they are, on this evidence, once more releasing exciting, well-recorded music at the junction between flamenco and popular styles.

Pepe Luis straddles this line more comfortably than most. The straight flamenco tracks such as ‘Delirio’ and the more pop-styled, like ‘Su Pelo’, share an intensity of feeling and lively spirit of invention. Guest musicians also come from both worlds, with the sax of Jorge Pardo and the electric guitar of Raimundo Amador making way for Ramón El Porugués and Pepe Habichuela (uncle of Pepe Luis); among the best voices and guitarists respectively in flamenco today. The album alternates the livelier, band-backed tracks with singer-guitar duos, playing in various palos (flamenco forms). All bear the hallmark of the crisp, clear production of Nuevos Medios and the big musical personality of Pepe Luis. A most welcome return on both counts.