When you think of flamenco and prog-rock it’s usually not in the same sentence. And yet here we are. And you’ll be happy you came.
Carmen’s decidedly out there (and utterly excellent) 1973 album Fandangos In Space is something only the wild early 70’s prog-rock explosion could produce, and the world is absolutely better off for it. Carmen was active for a mere five years during the 70’s but during that time they released three full-length albums, opened for prominent bands like Santana, Electric Light Orchestra, and Jethro Tull, and developed quite the live show. These dudes were crazy (genius?) enough to incorporate the traditional flamenco zapateado dance into their live shows, designing a specially amplified stage floor so that the taps of their feet became a part of the percussion section. Honestly that might have been the height of musical genius right there.
If you’re looking for something that absolutely smacks which I can probably guarantee you’ve never heard before, Fandangos In Space is your ticket to another dimension. Tales of bullfights, gypsies, and lost love against the backdrop of flamenco guitar, Mellotron keyboards, castanets, tap dancing, a ripping rhythm section, and blistering guitar solos. And all produced by the iconic Tony Visconti who famously worked on nearly every David Bowie record from 1969’s David Bowie to 2016’s Blackstar.
It’s a match made in heaven (excuse me, el paraíso) that shouldn’t be missed.
Standout Songs: “Bulerias”, “Looking Outside (My Window)”, “Bullfight”, “Sailor Song”
