JOSÉ MERCÉ

José Mercé, the undisputed master of flamenco cante jondo, returns to Les Arts to present El Oripandó, the result of working closely on conceptualisation, composition and production with Antonio Orozco, who has distilled into the album two and a half years of conversations and intimate exchanges with the Cadiz-born cantaor and his family. It is a work of a markedly biographical nature that conveys this intimate dialogue to the listener. It is life itself, encapsulated in eight tracks with an unmistakable flamenco substratum. Extensive progressive compositions, ballads and old “forge songs” go hand-in-hand with rap, electronic figures approaching rock and existential groans. Mercé shares the stage with drums, bass, electric guitar, piano, keyboards and backing singers to perform this work, as well as singing in some of the purest flamenco styles.