Al Foc

Ricard Ros plays the traditional sac de gemecs, the Catalan bagpipe, and the backbone to the music he now develops under the alias ROS. ROS picks up on the typical melodies from the sac de gemecs repertoire, but it is here enhanced by electronics, synths and, a little less extraordinarily, singing. Just as he did with the previous De la Terra, ROS tries to expand the possibilities of this instrument through the interaction with a series of different stimulus. There is an interesting spark scintillating from the collaboration with singer Joana Dark; voice, sac de gemecs and electronics are entangled throughout ‘La Presó de Lleida’ (The Prison of Lleida); ‘Foc Fosc’ (Dark Fire) is a more beat-driven affair; and ‘Flama’ more melodic and appealing. At the same time, however, a general feeling arises that ROS is always a bit shy of taking these elements to the next step and ends up playing it safe. It never sounds as bold as it promises, failing to create its own universe.