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"HE SINGS BETTER EVERYDAY"
11th Chapter of:
CAMARON DE LA ISLA: COMPLETE RECORDINGS.
by JOSE MANUEL GAMBOA RODRIGUEZ
After another two-year wait "Camarón
re-appears with Calle Real". Santiago Monforte photographs him in the shadows,
covered by a hat, as if he were hiding his face. Nor is it necessary to mention
that in a short time a large number of people could be seen wearing a similar
hat. The album is similar to the previous one, perhaps a bit less acoustic, with
Paco de Lucía and Tomatito on guitars, the productions of Pachim and the
musical direction of Paco. Pepe de Lucía did not contribute to the work.
The authorship of the cuts excepts the one beginning the album, "Romance de Ia
luna", which was written by Paco Ibañez and Paco Ortega (who will later
become famous for his collaboration with Isabel Montero) with lyrics by Lorca,
and "Ná es esterno" by M. S. Melchor/José Soto are signed by José
Monje in partnership with other co-writers: Antonio Humanes, Ricardo Pachim, M.
S. Melchor, etc.
The "Romance" is composed
in the rhythm of "tanguillos" and the bass of Carles Benavent is added to the
guitars. It starts and ends with the "lolailos" of the chorus. Nothing significant
except the "cantaor" performing them. "Esclavo de tus besos" is an airy "bulería"
in which, aside from those mentioned above, Rubén Dantas on the box-drum
joins them. In some passages we hear "cantes" of the "Perla de Cádiz" and
it ends with the chorus "Life, life is/is a mishap/life, life is", which Camarón
used so many times to finish off his performances, which here is performed by
the chorus, to which an inharmonious keyboard or a synthesized bass joins (?).
The chorus performed by Camarón together with the choir in the tango "Yo
vivo enamorao" likewise became popular. With a "bulería" in the Jerez style
is begun "Yo soy el viento", which the blond gypsy sings so well with his woeful
voice. It is also the chorus that begins with the fandango "a cane'" "Calle Real",
a fandango which José finishes off on a high note, followed by an immediate
entry into the fandangos "alosneros", where he is sublime. The string arrangements
of Joan Albert Amargós magnifies them and does not overshadow them. The
well-controlled guitars play in the local style of the miner's town made popular
by Bartolomé Cerrejón Cerrejón, "El Pinche". In the "bulería"
"Ná es cterno", hand-clapping and guitars accompany the beautiful voice
of the "cantaor". Nothing else is needed. The essence of this cut is, in our opinion,
the verse that begins with "Luna que brilla en los mares", which many years ago
we heard from Sebastián Blanco (its author?). In the rumba "Caminando"'
the sound of the bass and the percussion is reinforced, and it ends with a chorus
over which Camarón frolics. The album ends with a tribute to the "Perla
de Cádiz", for which he performs "bulerías" full of charm and elegance,
accompanied by guitars and hand-clapping.
To be continued
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