Their first all-acoustic album since 1990’s Allegria, the excellent Roots sees the Gipsy Kings music return to its Flamenco/Gipsy origins without the studio embellishments of their more recent output.
Recorded mainly live, in a 17th century farmhouse in a small town in France’s Languedoc region, here they’ve collaborated with producer Craig Street (Norah Jones) to produce passionate versions of familiar sounding melodies with titles such as ‘Fandango’, ‘Amigo’ and ‘Legende’. Joining them on the album are double-bassist Greg Cohen – best known for his work with Tom Waits – percussionist Cyro Baptista and accordionist Garth Hudson formerly of The Band – completing a line-up that boasts a remarkable level of virtuosity. It shows in some wonderful playing. Add lots of syncopated handclapping, rhythmic strumming and a general party atmosphere and you get a record full of stirring stuff which you can’t help but tap your feet and hum along to.
Roots is an album that will add to the Gipsy Kings’ legend.