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Ojos de Brujo (Spain)
Song : Naitá
Album : Bari (La Fabrica de Colores, Spain)
Visit : www.ojosdebrujo.com
Elsewhere in BBCi : WOMAD 2003 audio | CD review
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Have any other largely unknown act ever won over the Womad public so convincingly as Ojos De Brujo did when they took the main stage on Sunday afternoon at Womad Reading 2003? Although fRoots magazine had profiled the band and Charlie Gillett had played tracks from their 2002 album Bari (Edsel) on his BBC London radio show the Ojos remained a new entity to the general world music public. But not for long! Vocalist Marina Abad, whose flowing black locks and golden robes immediately announced her as the festival's most striking visual presence, grabbed the microphone and wailed, the Ojos kicked in and all of Womad seemed to rise to the magical musical alchemy erupting on stage.
I don't use the word 'magic' lightly when writing on Ojos De Brujo – their name translates as 'Eyes of the Wizard' and the group certainly believe in the earth's elemental energies. Perhaps this is what lends their music such a driving passion. Ojos De Brujo are a Barcelona-based musical collective. Their 2001 debut album Vengue (Edsel) found the band lead by noted Catalan producer/singer Dani 'el mono loco' (literally 'the crazy monkey’). Dani also fronts the successful Catalan band Macaco and when their 2002 album took off across Europe he had to withdraw from Ojos.
Marina was already in the band and for the Bari album she stepped forward, bringing her mix of wailing vocal and brusque Catalan rapping to the forefront. The band members play a variety of instruments and a DJ lends percussive scratching to the sound. 'Flamenco hip-hop' is how one critic described the band. That's fitting yet the band draw on a vast reservoir of sounds – Catalan rumba, reggae, rock, Indian, dance music and more all flow into the Ojos sound.
Inspired by the Spanish Gypsy ethos, Ojos De Brujo are very much a 21st Century roots band.
Garth Cartwright, October 2003
 Read other peoples comments
As soon as I heard Vengue for the first time, Ojos de Brujo entranced me. But when I bought Barí in Barcelona, I fell in love. Their music is a perfectly beautiful mix of the sounds of many cultures, and is thus a powerful catalyst to the "One World" message they so passionately promote. Having seen them in Chicago and in New York, I can now say their stage performance is just as electrifying as their albums, if not more. Ojos de Brujo is composed of beautiful people with a convicting and beautiful message, and I hope their music can speak to people all over the world. Olé.
Liza truely wonderful, a fantastic result to such a blending of different flavours, a positive path for music to take.
ben heard them once, and fell in love with the energy and poetic anger flowing in each song.. can't wait to see them. i'll be at central park
Flaca I absolutely adore this record. I want to get their first album 'Vengue'but can't find it anywhere. Any ideas?
Mike
Mike Browne Ole!
Luigi Ramos Can't see what all the fuss is about personally! I can think of a 1001 bands in Europe this could go to, but not these guys. Don't get me wrong they are not untalented.
Tom I heard them last night live in Chicago. Energetic, creative, synthesizers. A Force. They will be monsters. They already are in terms of creativity.
Richard Congratulations!
You deserve it!
Happy to be with you!
Saludos!
Bairrista! I have been waiting anxiously for this album to reach the U.S-the moment i heard this on the web, it took me to a different place.. definately one of the most exotic rhytms i've heard!
AnaLucia this group is amazing
francisco tirado No Coment, Join "Ojos de Brujo"
Alvaro VERY GOOD!
VESNA SKALA This entrancing extract had an immediate effect on me - absorbing guitar work, gentle harmonies and a lilting rhythm ... and then the change of tempo had me dancing in my seat! Can't wait to hear more.
Rachel
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