BBC - Radio 3 - Awards for World Music 2005

WINNER 2005
AMPARANOIA (SPAIN)

Full track details

Right now, Spain is hot...musicalmente!. For the past decade or so a new generation of Spanish musicians have been looking both inwards to flamenco and bolero traditions, outwards to the music of the Latin Caribbean, especially Cuba and Mexico, and beyond to other sounds that reek of teen spirit the world over; hip hop, ska, punk, thrash, dub, reggae and rock 'n' roll.

For those who deal in labels, it's a style sometimes called 'mestizo'. In the wake of adoptive Spaniard Manu Chao and bands like Ojos de Brujo or Macaco comes Amparanoia, a pure blood mestizo project, lead by the charismatic Amparo Mercedes Sanchez. She cut her teeth with groups like Correcaminos (Roadrunners) and The Gang on the blues and rock scene of her native Granada, before moving north to Madrid in the mid 1990s. It was in the capital city's eclectic and polyglot neighbourhoods of Malasana and Lavapies that the future sound of Spain was nurtured, courtesy of endless jam sessions and all night parties. The area was like a cultural blender, into which political radicalism, youthful energy and all the musical styles that makes 'mestizo' such a magnetic proposition were chucked and then mashed up.

After treading the boards of clubs, bars and cafes in the capital, Amparo and her crew released a debut album, "El Poder de Machin", on the Edel label and followed it with a hi-octane collaboration with various Basque rock and punk musicians called "Feria Furiosa". A trip to Mexico in 2000 brought Amparo under the spell of the Zapatista movement and she has been a fervent supporter and proselytiser ever since. On her return from trips to Mexico and Cuba, Amparanoia teamed up with Beto Bedoya from Macaco and Eldys 'Muneco' Isak from Ojos de Brujo to form the La Realildad Soundsystem, which toured Spain and shocked the nation with it's overtly political edge and hedonistic sprit. Mestizo was officially out of the closet.

Meanwhile records by all these bands started to sell by the container load in Spain, and abroad. Amparanoia hit the international gig and festival circuit and signed to Virgin / EMI in the UK. A compilation of Amparanoia's greatest moments to date, entitled "Rebeldia con Alegria", was released throughout Europe and the band performed recently at the Royal Albert Hall with friends and fellow travellers Calexico. A subsequent tour was derailed by tragedy however, when piano player Caridad Borges was killed in a car accident in Camaguey, Cuba in October 2004. Her husand Jose Alberto Varona, Amparanoia's trumpet player, and her daughter Carirosa were both injured in the crash.

This doesn't spell the end however. Their tour of the UK has merely be postponed and if there was ever a crew with the courage and determination to overcome such a massive blow, it's Amparanoia. Theirs is the sound of modern Spain...eclectic, raucous, conscious, defiant and rhumbamentally entertaining!

Ivan Chrysler (courtesy of fRoots)

Rebeldia con Alegria album review
Amparanoia official website

Your Comments

Jose, Michigan
A great discovery for me, one of the most exciting new sounds around, love it!!

sm, Canada
Found this site looking for the artists behind a great song I heard on radioio world

João Paulo Lopes - Porto, Portugal
If you like Amparanoia, try "real" music from Spain that will surprise your ears: Joaquín Sabina, Kepa Junkera, Radio Tarifa. And if you want to become astonished listen to Juan Paco "El Lebrijano" with a moroccan orchestra, mixing flamenco with arabo-andalouse music.

Delphy ,Denmark
I just have no idea why they have won!
Sun Nov 6 19:31:29 2005

Aprendero
I found this while researching for a presentation for a class on Spanish music. I am impressed.
Sun Oct 2 22:14:30 2005

whatever - barcelona
we went all the way out into the pueblo, got lost but finally found ourself infront of a stage full of living musical legends!! We shook our butts over an hour drenched in sweat we went back home fulled with soul! Thank you Ampa
Fri Apr 1 00:06:55 2005

Pilar, Javea (E)
I definitely agree: AMPARANOIA great, and GAUDI fantastic!!!! This is a great year for world music.
Tue Mar 29 18:28:56 2005

Maria Yulier Martinez - London
Amparo and Amparanohia are truly international!!- Great rithms for everyone.
Fri Mar 25 12:56:32 2005

caesar, Paris
the album "Bass, Sweat & Tears" by Gaudi is a fantastic cncept, fresh and innovative; a beautiful balance between dub and world music. It also contains the gem track "Babylon flamenco" feat Ojos de brujo. Incredibly beautiful experiment with Flamenco & Dub!!!!! C.
Sun Mar 20 20:12:51 2005

brian lemon group london
gaudi, bass sweat and tears is the best world music album
Tue Mar 8 20:25:33 2005

Yolande, Holland
The people that judge this music as not that interesting obviously haven't seen Amparanoia play live. Amparo has such charisma that even without singing and without music, the crowd will go crazy! So to Amparo: Guapa, keep up the good work and see you in April!
Tue Mar 8 13:43:54 2005

DAVID............... BARSELONA
ALL RIGHT, BABEEEEEEEEE!!! AMPARANOIA IS THE BEST GROUP IN EUROPE... I LIKE VERY MUCH... AMPARO IS THE NEW JANIS JOPLIN.... GOOD LUCK TO JOHNNY BRANCHIZIO AND JORDI MESTRES... SEE YOU, AMPARO..... (SIGUE TAN GUAPA)
Mon Mar 7 09:38:37 2005

Joan Barcelona,Spain
I'm sorry to say that Amparanoia is not the best thing Spanish music has produced. DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!. If you are interested in true Spanish flavas you should better try Camaron, Diego el Cigala, Enrique Morente, Radio Tarifa, Carmen Linares, Tapia eta Leturia, Eliseo Parra, L'Ham de Foc, Mayte Martin, etc...
Sat Feb 5 16:00:57 2005

Bo, Arizona
I have to agree with Albert from Spain - GRATE MUSIC ( see dictionary Al - 'grate' means To irritate or annoy persistently ) And annoyngly plain this presentation is. Why is anyone even trying to install this mediocracy as World Music. But then that's why European music is not on the map of World Music. So sad.
Tue Feb 1 05:42:09 2005

Rosie Olson, Florida, USA
This is one of the worse Spanish songs I ever heard. Such a pitty, since Spain has great singers and musicians.
Mon Jan 31 13:03:29 2005

Eddie Petkov, California
You can hear such music everywhere. It's not hard to make, as it doesn't take any skill. Quite plain and indistinctive.
Sat Jan 22 20:09:25 2005

Rafa- Sevilla
I really like Amparonaoia at the same level than Ojos de Brujo, Macaco or Martires. I agree recommending to see them live in their mixed race and peaceful athmosphere.
Tue Jan 18 16:38:59 2005

Lluis - Barcelona
Wow! Amparo! you're incredible. I Saw you recently and i think that your voice is one of the most personals and wonderfuls in the actuallity. Thanks for your music!
Tue Jan 18 15:36:15 2005

oyooooo, madrid
uauuuuuu!! They're The best!!
Mon Jan 17 20:13:32 2005

Extremadura (Spain)
One of the best fussion groups of the world, sons of Manu Chao
Mon Jan 17 00:02:41 2005

Aida, Barcelona
Even though they have been in the musis world for a while, I have just discovered them and they are awesome. Her voice, the trumpet, the "cajón"... just great!!! Give them the prize!!!
Fri Jan 14 09:03:43 2005

Albert - Spain
A grate music!!!!
Mon Jan 10 14:24:02 2005

jordi - Barcelona
An incredible voice for a great and cool group! The mixture of rythms and kinds of music are their most important value. You must to see them in live situation, it´s a great party. They are the best!
Thu Dec 23 12:40:37 2004

abelius-barcelona
She has an impredectible future at all lights!
Wed Dec 22 14:09:19 2004

Anna, Catalunya
Amparanoia is an incredible group with a cool rythm and words which talk about love, war, injustice, feminism, racism... Their singer, Amparo, is a great woman who has an extraordinary black voice. I hope they win!
Wed Dec 22 10:41:15 2004

johnnybranchizio - barcelona
a like it very mach!!
Tue Dec 21 16:27:59 2004

Richard Dorrell
The apex moment of WOMAD this year (although maybe Rokia Traore could compete for this): sinuous, punchy, fantastic party music. The flip side of the coin presented by Ojos De Brujo and Radio Tarifa.
Wed Dec 15 15:17:37 2004