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Written in Folk Roots issue 166, 1997

GRUPO DE DANZAS TIERRA DE BARROS
Por San Marcos - Colección De Canciones Y Danzas Extremeñas
Sonifolk 20088 (1996)

This is the traditional sound of Extremadura, the part of Spain bordering on central Portugal. The group comes from Almendralejo, south of Mérida.
     Most of the music herein is in the form of the joyful, spinning, three-four fast-waltz rhythm of the dance-song jota, with the occasional fandango or a slower rondeña, the singers accompanied by an integrated group of trilling bandurrias and laudes with violins and an accordion over the “dum-da-da-da” of guitars, with a thumping, clicking percussion section of castañuelas, triangle, bottle and drums.
      Grupo Tierra De Barros does it well, and has been doing it since 1969. This release comprises two albums on one CD, one released on Sonifolk back in 1981 and a new one with a line-up expanded to eight singers and eighteen instrumentalists (not all necessarily at the same time).
      It’s music to dance to all day and all night, but even on record the spirit and lightness reaches out. It’s a fact that traditional customs are dwindling in modern Spain, but people will feel the lack of the socialising and all-round fun that this music supports. I can’t help feeling that music as infectious as this is prime material, with the right handling, for an upsurge. Look what happened with Flamenco, Sevillanas and Irish dance - it’s time for Nueva Jota and Nuevo Fandango.
     

© 1997 Andrew Cronshaw
 

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