Rockamenco's name already gives a good impression of what you can expect from this band: a combination of (blues) rock and flamenco. It seems to be an unusual combination for a Japanese artist, but it works out perfectly for these musicians. If one isn't familiar with the Japanese or Spanish language, it's easy to mistake this band for an actual Spanish group.
Morena is the band's debut single which was released in May of this year and is the band's second release after an independently released mini-album. The single opens with a song carrying the same name, which is a great representative of the
Rockamenco-style.
Starting off with joyous Spanish acoustic guitars strumming along side an electric one, it's immediately clear why this band has three guitarists in their line-up. The song has an upbeat rhythm created by acoustic guitars, immediately bringing parties and dancing people to mind.
KSK Arita does a great job in bringing in the Mediterranean influences in the vocals, and the guitar solos are simply amazing.
From the festive
Morena, the mood dips in the next song,
Rainbow. Alhough the title may be cheery, this is a song with a sad, almost mournful sound to it. The guitars strum a quick rhythm through the song and are later joined by a horn section, adding some extra, much needed, spice to the song. The only downside to this song is that it's rather long, almost six minutes and the rhythm, despite the various guitar solos, start to become a bit repetitious. The following track
Wasabi follows in the same fashion and while it doesn't really grasp one's attention, it's still enjoyable to listen to. Unfortunately it fails to shock your ears in the way wasabi does to your taste buds!
The last track is a cover of the song
Don't Let me be Misunderstood, by the English group
The Animals, with a
Rockamenco flavor. The pronunciation of the English is close to perfect, and the Mediterranean sound works with the song really well. During the bridge, a hint of jazz slips in and then it leads to the last chorus, which is powerful and intense.
Overall, the single is a great debut for
Rockamenco. Though both
Rainbow and
Wasabi are a bit weaker than the other songs, this band definitely has great potential with its unique concept and talented musicians. Fans can definitely expect a bright future from this group!
For more information on the band you can check out their
official website.
