Blending the spirit of
Gipsy Kings' classic Rhumba Catalana sound -- a pop-oriented version of flamenco -- with an edgier rock attitude and vibe,
Los Manolos have been a monster hit in Spain since ten Barcelona friends got together and launched the band in 1989. Led by bassist and vocalist Carles Lordán, drummer and percussionist Andreu Hernández, guitarist and vocalist Toni Pelegrín, and guitarist/vocalist Josep Gómez,
Los Manolos include members who were previously involved in rock bands like the Elastics, Chemical Alicia, and Sagrada Family, and the vibe perfectly blends traditional Spanish and contemporary rock forms.
Robando Gallinas, the group's fourth release, was finally made available in the U.S. in 2008 by Allegro, and offers more acoustic guitar playing than the group's previous projects. True to the album title, the opening tracks open with the squawks of chickens before they get down to business and blast through with the percussive jangle of vocal harmony-driven tunes ("Volant Poulettes," "A Descansar"), romantic horn-drenched fiestas ("Nada Bueno Es Ilegal"), and sparse, high-spirited folkloric pieces ("Jet Set"). ~ Jonathan Widran