Financial Times “The Allure of the Newcomer”
The Financial Times‘ Mark Espiner praises Son de la Frontera’s set at the Barbican.
“Late last year, Mayra Andrade’s debut album had just been released and she was playing the support slot for the Benin singer Angelique Kidjo at the Barbican. Then, with a confident set, she practically sang her off the stage. Six months on she has a nomination for best newcomer in the BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards, is the headline act and has sold out the venue. This time her support band, Son De La Frontera (Sound of the Frontier) - also nominated for an award in the Europe category - threatened to do to her what she had done to Kidjo.
This five-piece band from Spain are aptly named; their music pushes at the borders of traditional styles with a daring mix of traditional Flamenco and Latin American sounds. As band leader Raúl Rodríguez said: “We offer you the best of our tradition and the best of our creation.” It was an offer the audience liked, rewarding a marvellous duet that set Rodríguez’s clean-picked Cuban tres guitar against Paco de Amparo’s frantic Spanish strumming with a standing ovation. Unusual for a supporting act.”