Reinas del Matute

Las Migas are a rare find: a group of four Barcelona-based women from Catalonia, Andalusia, France and Germany, creating stunningly varied flamenco¬centred song. They were the late Mario Pacheco's last signing to Nuevo Medios, the pioneering Madrid label that brought nu flamenco to the world in the 1980s and 90s. Pacheco maintained his enthusiasm and passion for over 30 years: signing Las Migas shows that his instinct for the innovative remained undiminished to the end.

For in this galaxy of songs with inherently complex rhythms, everything hinges on the quite exquisite voice of Silvia Pérez Cruz, shifting adeptly from the delicate to the spirited. She's supported by intriguing, imaginative arrangements from the flamenco guitars of Marta Roblés and Isabella Laudenbach, and the violin and accordion of Lisa Bause. Kicking off with the classic ‘Los Cuatro Muleros’, songs include tanguillos, fandangos, rondeña and bulerias: the guajira ‘Maria la Portuguesa’ is totally luminous.

What also sets the disc apart is its subtlety: it's enriched by unobtrusive guests including Son de la Frontera’s Raúl Rodriguez on Cuban tres guitar. Others from the flamenco scene provide coros and percussion, while Antonio Romero ‘Chipi’ recites a beautiful poem for the title-track. With gentle touches of cello, viola and samples of Hammond, Moog and ukulele on different pieces, the whole adds up to an exceptional debut.