The team that is Madrid De Los Austrias are DJ Pogo and Hienz Tronigger. They keep it mixed modern electronic, head chill friendly and globally Latin traditional. This album was recorded in Spain with local artists and follows their first album entitled Amor.

My favourite track is 'Un Mensaje' with some throaty female Spanish vocals and 'traditional' nu-jazz flamenco. It's unusual but it stands out. I was pleased to see that it has been chosen to be on the latest 12" release from the album (together with two DJ Spinna remixes).

It's not just a one-track album though. It's a solid release and you can feel their affinity with Spanish musical traditions. The acoustic guitar/piano jazz flamenco of 'Viento Y Luna' and the bass-drenched sultry whispers of 'Para Don Alonso' are sexy warm-ups while the title track and 'Buscando' are soulfully downtempo. Mas Amor must be listened to in hot conditions; sultry territory like Break Reform. As is 'Deia' which is for those that like their Alice Coltrane influences with their flamenco guitar riffs with a lazy bongo beat and vocals by Carol C (of Si*Sé who are on Luaka Bop). 'No A La Guerra' is a cross between the sultry and the dancefloor elements of these tracks.

The next three tracks on the CD are mostly instrumentals. 'Rua Do Trombeta' is the jazz shuffler funky dancer. It's got a bit of a 70s theme tune horn and bass riff to it with busy bongos, strings and keys. 'Vida Del Pescador' is very slow to start but thankfully, as the longest track at 7m 49s is makes up for it with more of a theme tune feel again but not 70s. Dare I say 2000s? Even with wicked acoustic jazz bass and bongo madness it manages to stay laid back; until the piano breaks towards the end at least, before finishing off with solo acoustic guitar. 'Valderama' is a little funkier and got a remix treatment on the first 12" EP off the album.

Do they carry it off as a multi-cultural marriage? Yes they do. Probably as a game of two halves for me as the jazzy instrumental tracks are in my 'comfort zone'. Even though all the lyrics are in Spanish this is no hindrance to a very "intoxicating concoction" with just the right level of castanets. Very infectious, dramatic and sexy sunshine music.

Reviewed:
CD Madrid De Los Austrias: Más Amor (SR040)
'El Pibe' EP: 'DC10', "Deia', 'Valderama' (El Pibe Mixaje), 'Vida Del Pescador' (The Dining Rooms Remix) (SR 038/1)
'Un Mensaje', 'Un Mensaje' (DJ Spinna Remix) 'Un Mensaje' (DJ Spinna's Free Radikalz Bonus Beats) and 'Para don Alonso' (Yam Who? Rework) (SR041/1 out 18th April 2005).

Links:
Sunshine Enterprises [check out Bellcrash on this label, they are from Belfast!]
Carol C