Carmen “Fandangos in Space” (1973)

There may be some of you that still remember watching David Bowie’s “1980 Floor Show” broadcast on Midnight Special in the fall of 1973, It was Ziggy’s last appearance and the swansong for the Spiders from Mars. It was a very special night indeed. For all the Glory of the Grand Dame, for me the true star of that broadcast was a band called Carmen. Released in 1973, Fandangos in Space introduced to the world the one of a kind blend of flamenco music and progressive rock of Carmen. Produced by skilled Tony Visconti, it is a stunning demonstration of virtuosity, creativity, and songwriting skills. Carmen‘s fusion is nearly perfect. I mean, there were bands doing the whole hard-folk prog thing at the time, and there were bands doing the whole Spanish influence thing, but both at the same time AND with arena rock ethics to boot? No one I can think of. The spacey synths, flamenco guitars and falsettos might seem a bit much, but trust me, it's worth it. Watch it here.

Although the Spanish/gypsy element translates into some predictable and clichéd lyrical topics, like bull fights, but the musical elements are so well integrated into the progressive rock vocabulary (including hand claps, castanets, and flamenco footwork) that one wonders why nobody followed the band's footsteps (literally!). Fandangos in Space open with the three-part "Bulerias," a roller coaster of sharp complex rhythmic prog and flamenco; future Jethro Tull member John Glascock's bass work is simply amazing. The piece establishes the main musical motif that will come back later in "Looking Outside" and the closing "Reprise." Roberto Amaral's typical falsetto vocals are put to good use in the torrid "Bullfight. The tune is powerful, with an appropriately hard/soft midsection (probably the best use of keyboards on the album; sounding like trumpets), while David Allen gives rare emotional depth to "Lonely House," a ballad built on the metaphor of an abandoned house. When Allen, his wife Angela, and Amaral join forces for the chorus line ("you've gone"), the listener dives into the despair conveyed by the lyrics. The second half of the album is loosely linked thematically and musically, each melody subtly hinting at the others. "Looking Outside (My Window)" brings another highlight and includes a flamenco dance as an interlude. A must for prog rock fans, Fandangos in Space is one of the genre's unsung classics. –Eduard