Medellin, Balbino – Gitan de Paname (Universal Fr.)
Reviewed by Sadie O., 4/2/06
If the Pogues were French and Spanish rather then Irish - and a BIT less boozy - they might have sounded like this. The first album by a young French man with Catalan roots, an associate of Sergent Garcia who also crosses the France/Spain cultural divide. Claims flamenco, rumba, punk, and urban influences – I’d say punk ala Clash and flamenco are most obvious. Great raw vocals, songs of a wild youth. The first 4 cuts and track 12 are the most “worldy”.
No known FCCs. The only cuts I don’t LOVE are 3, 8 and 11 (cause they’re slow!), but I guess I love 7 and 12 the most.
1. **4:03 Spanish guitar and rock and roll, sung in French. Lots of energy, nice flamenco-ish break in middle.
2. **3:10 a few seconds of guitar flourishes and “oles”, then a high energy gallop, sung in Spanish. Some great violin and percussion.
3. 3:56 slow and moody waltz, very French café lament with accordion and angst.
4. **3:55 hand percussion ala Flamenco, but with accordion and both French and Spanish lyrics. Definite rumba groove in places. Midtempo and complex, less punky.
5. **3:59 Fittingly for title, VERY punky. Like Stiff Little Fingers in French, with a hint of acoustic guitar and sax…
6. **3:09 high energy rock with electric guitar and standup bass, sung in French. Definite rockabilly feel/guitar break.
7. ***3:21 very high energy, in Spanish. Interesting beat, with more than a hint of Ska. Fun, wheee!
8. *3:47 another slow French café waltz lament with accordion but this one has loud bits. GNARLY but short guitar solo.
9. **3:04 uptempo punk rockabilly in French, with wild guitars.
10. *3:35 uptempo and punky, but more acoustic and with accordion.
11. 3:55 VERY slow lament in Spanish, with acoustic guitar and accordion. Almost a slow tango feel, very emotional.
12. ***3:22 rumba! Spanish lyrics, uptempo, total booty wiggler.