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El Guincho (aka Pablo Díaz-Reixa) is from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and now lives in Barcelona, Spain. His Alegranza album is very much a ‘Young Turk’ of an album that is thick with Afrobeat, tropicália hip-hop and rock influences; think of a punk version of Prefuse 73 stuck in a loop problem; perhaps?

The album kicks off with the single ‘Palmitos Park’ that’s got a ‘Happy Days’ theme and whilst his uses samples throughout the album, it’s not really representive and not the best of the bunch. Sometimes the use of repitition makes tracks a bit of a hard listen but when it works, like the King Sunny Afro style of ‘Antillas’, you can really get into the groove.

‘Fata Morgana’ and ‘Kalise’ are similar to ‘Antillas’ but with a Caribbean steel pan feel and ‘Cuando Maavilla Fui’ gets Rachid Taha in Bollywood.

The psychedelic Beck one is ‘Buenos Matrimonios Ahí Fuera’ and at the other extreme, for the 100mph dancers, its ‘Costa Paraiso’ (current favourite this one and on his myspace site, see links below). Just to prove this guy can mess with your mind, somewhere between the two is ‘Prez Lagarto’.

El Guincho is also a member of the band Coconot but he’s on tour this month in the UK with American indie-Afro-poppers, Vampire Weekend who are causing their own stir as their self-titled debut album was released in January this year on XL Recordings. Looks like all dates are sold out so suggest you get there early with dancing shoes, an open mind and you’ll be impressed.

Forthcoming Tour dates with Vampire Weekend
20 Oct 2008 - Birmingham Academy
21 Oct 2008 - Manchester Academy
22 Oct 2008 - Sheffield Academy
24 Oct 2008 - London Forum
25 Oct 2008 - London Forum
26 Oct 2008 - London Forum
28 Oct 2008 - Newcastle Academy
29 Oct 2008 - Glasgow Barrowlands
30 Oct 2008 - Liverpool Academy
31 Oct 2008 - Bristol Academy

Hectic Mix nominations: ‘Antillas’, ‘Costa Paraiso’, ‘Cuando Maavilla Fui’, ‘Buenos Matrimonios Ahí Fuera’

Alegranza means something like ‘happiness’ or ‘good news’

Reviewed: El Guicho - Alegranza (Young Turks) Release date: 6th October 2008
1. Palmitos Park (2:32)
2. Antillas (5:31)
3. Fata Morgana (3:37)
4. Kalise (5:10)
5. Polca Mazurca (3:40)
6. Cuando Maavilla Fui (3:37)
7. Buenos Matrimonios Ahí Fuera (6:44)
8. Costa Paraiso (5:47)
9. Prez Lagarto (3:56)

Links
www.myspace.com/elguincho
www.theyoungturks.co.uk
myspace.com/turkishdelights
vampireweekend.com
www.myspace.com/coconot