Various Artists - Achilifunk: Gipsy Soul 1969-1979

Spain’s grooves finally get a look-in

It seems like almost every European country has received focus for its contributions to groove/beats culture: Italian soundtracks, Polish jazz, Greek prog rock, you name it. Yet Spain always seemed to be left off the party invite list (excepting a couple of cult disco hits by Barrabas, who don’t feature here). Franco’s reign may have had something to do with this; either that, or the odd blend of Andalusian heritage and American/British R&B just didn’t travel. Still, this is an interesting exploration of funky flamenco and rumba that would never normally see light of day outside of Spanish borders, featuring early musical miscegenation from Encarnita Polo, legends of the oeuvre such as Peret and some rather chintzy disco that some readers could quite conceivably have shuffled drunkenly to on a mid-70s package holiday on the Costa. Not to everyone’s taste, granted, but a fascinating, finger-popping peek into Spain’s once-locked musical bóvedas.

Love Monk | LMNK 20

Reviewed by Daddy Bones
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