Alquimia

Swedish flamenco guitarist Robert ‘Robi’ Svärd released his engaging debut album Pa'ki Pa'ka in 2016. This album won him not only good reviews but the attention of Spain's flamenco community, who were extremely impressed by his fluid, lyrical technique. Alquimia means ‘Alchemy’ in English, the magical transformation of base metals into gold; a mythic process that haunted many medieval minds. Here, the Swede finds himself creating musical gold out of what we must admit is hardly a base-metal talent. Where Pa'ki Pa'ka was slightly hesitant – a magnificent display of guitar playing but perhaps lacking in that magical duende spirit, Alquimia is stunning as both the guitarist and his Spanish collaborators contribute to an exceptional album.

A lot of thought has gone into both the songs and the performances. ‘La Luna Quiere Bailar’ has a gentle rhythm, jazzy piano and a female chorus, while ‘Callejon Del Agua’ has a hard, masculine intensity. Throughout, the performances are models of clarity – palmas (hand claps) provide the rhythmic base for which Svärd channels his taut, melodic guitar lines, while a variety of vocalists sing with the requisite skill and passion. There's plenty of space left in the performance, and no one shows off or over-emotes. Instead the Swede and the Spaniards come together to create a furious, exciting and quite beautiful whole.