Martín Guijarro, February 2009

Re-encountering La Macanita’s voice is always a pleasure. She hadn’t been to the recording studio for several years and, moreover, her previous album ‘La luna de Tomasa’ has been off the catalogue for some time now. So there are more than enough reasons to welcome ‘Sólo por eso’. On this album, the Jerez-born cantaora once again resorts to the production of Ricardo Pachón, as she had already done on her ‘Jerez-Xères-Sherry’. And on this occasion he has opted for the scheme of romantic song in order to seek other registers in the cantaora. Now then, they are coplas with her ineludible flamenco slant. This basic element lies, of course, in her voice, which does not even hide its hoarse zest in the sweetest song. Of course, it is also in the rhythms, which sail along the waters of the bulería, soleá and tangos. And it is the axis of the accompaniment based - although she is also backed by keyboards, basses, drums - on guitars by Diego del Morao for the more adorned songs and by Manuel Parrilla for the more traditional cantes. Highlighting these is the soleá, a style which when performed by La Macanita takes on sublime nuances, and the seguiriya which leaves such a vintage aftertaste after being listened to. And of the others, the scores by Fernando Terremoto, author of the bulería ‘Volver a verte’ and the tangos ‘Déjame volar’; and by Carlos Lencero, who went away but left previously unreleased songs such as this ‘Cobre viejo’ dedicated to Chocolate. Also standing out is the tribute to La Paquera with a version with accordion of the zambra ‘Maldigo tus ojos verdes’. What could be done without is the version of ‘Cai’ which Alejandro Sanz did for Niña Pastori some time ago. All of it shapes up this disc with harmless production with which La Macanita, without giving up being a cantaora, wants to demonstrate her versatility, taking a look once more at the field of light flamenco-style song.

Further information

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Interview with La Macanita, flamenco cantaora (May 2009)