City of Ideas
After years of performing and releasing albums overseas, acclaimed  modern flamenco guitaristVicente Amigoachieves  stateside recognition with his releaseCiudad de las Ideas. While he is  accomplished on the fretboard, Amigo takes a decidedly low-key approach on  tracks like "Tres Notas Para Decir te Quiero" (with its soothing falsetto  singing) and the solo guitar piece "Bolero de Vicente." Through his style, Amigo  is able to flesh out his songs with controlled doses of requisite guitar  pyrotechnics. (The syrupy strings and mellow guitar of the title track, however,  evoke easy listening.) Not everything here is laid back. Two of the songs--the  dramatic "Cordoba" (solea) and the initially languid "La Tarde as Caramelo"  (alegrias)--build to dramatic crescendos, while "Tata," the album's most  energetic cut, features lively brass and bass and a catchy one-word chorus.  There's a smoldering romanticism displayed onCiudad de las Ideas, and  the talented Amigo proves he is in command of mood and tone throughout.--Bryan Reesman