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The series offers an insight into a period of transition for Spanish pop music. As noted in the informative accompanying booklet, Spanish bands in the mid 60’s found themselves with two great influences: psychedelia and soul. Unable to compete with the modern recording techniques, soul became the sound of the decade, filling the dance floors and generating a wave of new bands who took their inspiration from the likes of James Brown and The Four Tops.

Following on from Volume I’s double CD collection, the second volume complements and builds on this unique collection, the compilers no doubt returning to the crates of dusty, old records to find even more long-forgotten gems. The title may be “Sensacional Soul” but, the compilation encompasses garage, r’n’b, rattling rock ‘n’ roll, bugalú and even stretches to far flung genres such as “freak-beat” and “sunshine soul.” Though a wonderful insight into the evolution of Spanish music, the album suffers a little from it’s crate digging success. The sheer number of tracks is daunting and it takes time to pick out the stand out selections amongst the, at times, pale imitations.

Los Roberts stomping El Saltamontes bends towards psychedelic rock rather than soul whilst Los 5 Diablos’ El Fuego begins as melancholic folk-psychedelia but soon becomes a Jim Morrison-esque romp. Some of the most stand out tracks are covers and the foreign influence in this period is notable. Los Bravos, fronted by Andy Anderson (brother of Yes front man John) contribute a fitting cover of Norman Haines’ Rudi’s in Love whilst Barcelona’s Alex y Los Findes’ translate the Four Tops’ Reach Out, I’ll Be There on Es Mejor Dejalo como Está. The jangling guitars, driving rhythms and punching brass lines which dominate both CDs, though becoming tiresome, would make perfect party music: raising eyebrows and questions from your guests whilst being itchingly danceable.

As ever, Vampisoul’s sumptuous packaging and in depth sleeve notes make the album a lot more appealing. Though none of the groups may have been particularly ground breaking, Sensacional Soul is an intriguing and fun cross-section of Spanish music in the late 60s, charting soul’s hispanic transformation.