Musicologists aren't the only ones who will enjoy pulling at the threads that bind this particular soundclash. Catalonia's gipsy rhumba emerged in the early 1960s, when flamenco musicians added splashes of Caribbean, Cuban and rock'n'roll sounds to their traditional mix. Messing with the traditional form is daring at any time, but the result was something quite fantastic, potent and intriguing, full of marvellous grooves and compelling rhythms. Coming out of the Barcelona barrios and 'burbs, Gipsy Rhumba's stylish leaders added lustre and light to those highly strummed flamenco guitars. You can hear the start of something exciting and new on tracks such as Nuestro Ayer from Rabbit Rumba; the Franco era-defying Ché Camino from Maruja Garrido; and the fiery bravado of Chango's El Guapo. souljazzrecords.co.uk
Download: Rabbit Rumba Nuestro Ayer; Chango, El Guapo