WOMAD

Son de la Frontera

From Spain

Their name means 'sound of the frontier' and as a description of Son de la Frontera's musical philosophy it's a perfect fit. "We are travellers who look forward without forgetting where we've been," says the band's leader Raul Rodriquez of their relationship with the flamenco tradition which sits at the heart of their sound. The five-piece band hail from the town of Moron de la Frontera, situated between the cities of Seville and Granada, both hothouses of the flamenco tradition. More significantly, Moron was the home of the legendary late flamenco guitar maestro Diego del Gastor, whose spirit and compositions infuse and inspire Son De La Frontera's approach. What makes their sound fresh and unique is the addition of the Cuban tres which adds a distinctively bright counterpoint to flamenco's more soulful emotions, as well as incorporating Moorish and Indian gypsy elements into the mix. The beguiling results, heard to brilliant effect on their second album Cal, ensured they topped the Europe category at the BBC Radio 3 Awards For World Music in 2008.

Biog by Nigel Williamson