Transadelica
If someone asked me what Cuba and Algeria have in common I would probably have difficulties coming up with a quick response. After a few minutes more probably the first thing that would come to mind would be warm climate typical of the Tropics or North Africa that both countries share. Everyone knows how fundamental heat is when speaking about the melting elements. It could be that the torrid heat that has fused together these two distant cultures to give life to an amazingly unique musical project called Transadelica. Even though this group is situated in Barcelona, their original roots and distinct geographically mixture of sounds firmly remain.
The two leaders of the group, Amparo and Yacine , have both had rich musical careers and a number hits- Amparo with the group Amparanoia and Yacine with Cheb Balowski. Their encounter must have been out of necessity because both groups had been performing in the territory of mestizaje bring this traditional or ethnic music to large audiences, with a touch of elements typical of rock and pop.
A variety of instruments are used on Transadelica’s first LP- a lute, a darbuka , a double bass as well as dub club bases which all help to create a combination of sounds as Cuban son, bolero mixed with harmonic melodies of Arab music. All of these elements are rolled into one to create an intricate and unique world music sound experience. The question that I ask myself, as I wait for the chance to see them in live in concert, is what could be more “Utopic”than wanting to unite the cultures and traditions of two populations that live 8000km away from each other? Hats off to Transadelica!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Transadelica/213783511997323?ref=nf
Franco Rigato
English translation by Karin Andrea Halliwell
Artist permanently and randomly on air at present date
