Bari
Some may complain thatOjos De Brujois simply the latest group to pillage flamenco music, but they'd be missing the point. This Barcelona band grew up with the flamenco tradition while also devouring a steady diet of hip-hop, punk, funk, gypsy and Middle Eastern music, so the inclusion of rapping, turntables and funk grooves is a logical one for these upstarts. Marina "La Canillas" Abad doesn't have the range that a conservatory-trained singer might have, but she makes up for it with her vivid, socially conscious lyrics and staccato delivery, which can skitter into rapid-fire rapping that resonates surprisingly well with flamenco's chattering rhythms. Indeed, the group is unafraid to mix anything: "Naita" starts out as a traditional song before breaking into a techno finale. More graceful is the fusion on "Memorias Perdías," which meshes flamenco, gypsy and swing jazz. One of the most hotly anticipated releases of the spring,Barihas a punky spirit that will make it a pick on many year-end lists.  –-Tad Hendrickson