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GIPSYLAND
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The band GIPSYLAND comes from Camargue near Montpellier in the South of
France. It is an area around Arles where rice grows and bulls and horses
wander. In this primeval swamps landscape, the small town of
Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is THE Mecca for all the gypsies all around the
world that meet there once a year.
“Viva La Musica”, GIPSYLAND’s debut album on HOLLYWOOD RECORDS (Buena
Vista/Universal) comes out in March 2000 and is produced by Metro (the
London-based team behind Cher's latest platinum-seller Believe). It melds
tradition and modern innovation and features band leader Kiko Motos (former
lead vocalist of the GIPSY KINGS) and the fiery ingenuity of gipsy musicians
in their 20s.
Mainly stemming from traditional gipsy music, the GIPSYLAND style adds
touches of salsa and samba as well as other musical styles.
On stage, it is impossible to resist their festive music, the dexterity of
the guitarists and their beautiful voices. One cannot help dancing to their
very catchy tunes and to the popular GIPSY KINGS material which Kiko Motos
conveys with such authenticity.
It is really not surprising that CHER chose Gipsyland for her "Dov'e L'Amore" single track (from the Believe album) and that the band was invited to work on numerous albums like Enrique IGLESIAS's "Bailamos" ....
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KIKO explains what makes the Gipsy style unique.
"Gipsy style music is, at its base, flamenco.
The Gipsys have kept the basics of
traditional flamenco which was instilled in us by our ancestors.
Over time, these musical traditions evolved as gipsys moved from
country to country and were thus in touch with other music
cultures. Now a very distinctive music interpreted in our own
expressive style, it reflects the culture of modern day gipsys.
For example: A gipsy guitarist will - no matter what type of
music he plays - add a particular rhythm, that of the "compas".
When we play the guitar, we tap the strings and the guitar itself
with a certain rhythm known as the "compas". There is
no school to learn the "compas". Our musical traditions
are passed on from generation to generation, thus the "compas"
becoming a natural part of our music.A derivative of pure
flamenco, the music of the Camargue Gipsys is always punctuated by the "compas":
this tapping of the strings and guitar by the fingers of the
playing hand.
The music of GIPSYLAND can be both festive with loads of rhythm or emotional, sad and sensual.Mainly stemming from traditional gipsy music, the GIPSYLAND style adds touches of salsa and samba as well as other musical styles. At one moment you can be fully immersed in the music and the next moment you can find yourself on the dance floor.A sensual, joyous and contemporary gipsy music. For all cultures and all musical tastes. A music which is fresh and vibrant.
Each musician evokes the passion and emotion of this type of music ; the public is quickly seduced. Dance and guitar characterize the energy and the vast panorama of the gipsy homeland.By way of the different forms and colours of flamenco, the cosmopolitan influences of Barcelona and spontaneity of each member of GIPSYLAND, the rhythms of "rumba" evolving into "rumba-rock" : GIPSYLAND affirms its own evocative style. "It’s a music you can’t help dancing to, the rhythms become a part of your body. It’s a music for fiesta, making love,dancing ..... but also a music that can express sadness and even death. It’s part of the soul of each gipsy. We wish to share this music with all. We feel our music is an international language communicating passion, joy and even melancholy - no matter what the nationality." says Kiko Moto, the lead singer and guitarist of Gipsyland.
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TRACKS (Album VIVA LA MUSICA)
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Traditional flamenco music is interpreted by only a guitar, song, palmas (hand clapping) and a "cajon" ( a wooden case used as percussion )".
VIVA LA MÙSICA is based on this tradition but brings in different sounds: - bass, percussion, keyboard, brass and even a darbouka.
"Our music integrates itself perfectly with other musical cultures and the music we recorded on the album is both universal and contemporary reaching out to a worldwide audience, appreciated by all even by those who don't know gipsy music or don't understand spanish" says Kiko Motos.
“Tracks like "Ana María," "La
Quiero, No, No" and "Mamá" literally suck you in from the
beginning. The lead guitar work of Cyril "Mario" Cablat is absolutely
astounding, and he, as well as the entire band, know how to make their guitars
sing like you've never heard before.
What is especially intriguing about this disc is that the more you listen to it,
the more you want to listen to it. Many discs I've listened to get better with
additional listens. But Viva La Música is unique in that you won't want
to take it out of the CD changer. For that matter, you might want to make it the
only disc in the player for a while; it's that good an album.
I hesitate, though, to say that Gipsyland is better than Gipsy Kings, if only
because these bands draw inspiration from the same musical well that to slight
one band you unintentionally slight the other. Instead, listen to both Gipsyland
and Gipsy Kings together and revel in the shared heritage. It absolutely lifts
the spirits like you could never imagine unless you have experienced this
musical tonic ......... RATING: A” (The Daily Vault)
“Former touring singer for the Gipsy
Kings Kiko Motos was seeking out the fresh Gypsy sound of tomorrow when
he realized the sound he sought was right under his own nose in his son
Juanito's flamenco-Gypsy band, Gipsyland. Kiko gave the quartet of
twentysomething guitarists his experienced Gypsy vocals, and the young musicians
gave Kiko their free vision of the Gypsy tradition. This exchange and the
production talent of Mark Taylor and Brian Rawling, who'd aided in the success
of Cher's comeback album, Believe, and Enrique
Iglesias's single "Bailamos," made for this strong debut album
of 12 original songs and one cover. The CD sings vivaciously with fertile
musicianship and poppish energy that stays well within the boundaries of good
taste. "Torito" uses Latin-jazz-style horns to spice up the flamenco
flavor, while "Viva la Música" charges through in an anthemlike
chorus over infectious dance-pop rhythms. "Olé Olá" hearkens back to
the Gipsy Kings' "Djobi Djoba," jumping with a pulsating beat,
swinging chorus, and vibrant percussive clapping. In short, anyone in love with
the feel-good pop-flamenco of the Gipsy Kings will delight in Gipsyland's
passionate, uplifting music.“
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Gipsyland takes flamenco-based gypsy music to a
new level."
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"We have matured quite a lot in the past
couple of years. We have traveled throughout the world and experienced many
different cultures. We've grown as people-and musicians.There isn't a secret
formula to what we do, it's just that we've been playing all our lives and are
really passionate about music. We only attempt a fusion of styles when it feels
right to us." (Kiko Motos)
Songs like the rollicking opening track "Sámbame (Danza de Fuego)"
and the wistful instrumental "Nuestro" showcase a band at the peak of
its powers. The production, courtesy of superstar French helmer Laurent Guéneau
(Faudel, Natacha Atlas) is cool and futuristic, yet warm and comforting at the
same time. And Kiko's voice, rough and defiant, sounds more powerful than ever.
Egyptian-Armenian singer Anoushka, a star in Europe and the Middle East,
lends her hypnotic vocals to the anthemic "Salaam." And Carlinhos
Brown, the singer/songwriter who single-handedly changed the face of
Brazilian music in the '90s, contributes his infamous production skills to
"Muévete," a hybrid of flamenco and batucada, the frenetic rhythms of
samba's percussion brigades.
" 'Salaam' is a song that talks about peace. And I thought it was really
good to have a singer from the Arabic world contributing her beautiful voice to
it. Anoushka is a gorgeous woman, and it was a pleasure working with her."
(Kiko Motos)
The Carlinhos Brown collaboration was the result of Gipsyland's first trip to
Brazil. "Some of the people who worked with us when we performed in Brazil
knew Carlinhos and suggested that we go visit him," he says. "When it
came to recording a tune for the new album, he had a lot of ideas. I don't think
I've ever heard a mixture of flamenco and batucada before." (Kiko Motos)
Stylistic experimentations notwithstanding, the undying spirit of flamenco is at
the heart of Arte. In an era where a number of groups have diluted the genre's
raw intensity for the sake of commercial success, Kiko emphasizes his commitment
to the centuries-old art form of his family.
"It pains me to see those people who hurt flamenco by altering it and
sacrificing its integrity. Everything evolves in life, of course. Nothing stays
still. But flamenco should never lose sight of its origins." (Kiko Motos)
Not to worry. It is safe to say that flamenco is in good hands with Gipsyland.
And the band's innate desire to travel the globe and create a musical bridge
between cultures is mirrored in the royal reception they've enjoyed in all
corners of the world.
"When we were promoting our first album, people acted as if they knew us
personally wherever we went. Our music is so warm, that it makes fans everywhere
feel like that they're part of our family." (Kiko Motos)
OTHER DISCOGRAPHY
"A L'ALBA" (1995) : 1st
Gipsyland album. Produced by Larry Martin, including the famous "Messe Sevillane",
(Sevillan Mass)
In 1999, Gipsyland records the CHER
"Believe" album track, "Dov'è l'amore"
Contact
us : 33 1 43 60 93 56 or 
info@musicprom.com
