RIOBO - Riobo
Zouma Records ZRCD065
Galician music is almost always a pleasure to listen to, and this new group is no exception. Riobó are a five-piece instrumental ensemble: bouzouki, mandolin, guitar, fiddle, flutes, whistles, accordion, and of course the Galician bagpipe. Unusually, it's the fiddle and flute which take point on most of the ten tracks here, with the accordion not far behind: fiddler Begoña Riobó seems to be the pivotal figure, and her playing is exceptional. Marcos Campos is a fine piper, but he favours the box here: the pipes shine on Foliada 85 and on the jig-time Choupana, but elsewhere they are muted or silent. Flutes and whistles take their place, providing the bright sparkle of fiesta music: muñeiras, polkas, xotas.
This is spirited music, whether it's the joy of the well-known Estroupele or the soulful San Campio. Riobó's touch is gentle, almost caressing these traditional tunes, but the result is powerful and compelling. There's a hint of classical polish - Galicia is one of those places where traditional music is equally at home in conservatoires and in kitchens - resulting in rich and varied arrangements without breaking the spell of this magical tradition. Virtuosity isn't lacking either: the challenging bow-work and ornamentation of Fox, the swooping and scampering of Pasodobre dos 30. This is high-class stuff, and no mistake. The sleeve notes are a flight of fancy, both artwork and text, but the music is very firmly rooted. There's also a nice glossy website at www.begoriobo.com which includes video samples: check it out!
Alex Monaghan
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this CD online from The Listening Post The Listening Post is the CD mailorder service of The Living Tradition magazine. This album was reviewed in Issue 90 of The Living Tradition magazine. |