  
Review:
The freshest take on flamenco since the millennium flipped over comes from a Spanish rocker who candidly admits he has no formal background in the gypsy-guitar genre. Session and soundtrack work have served Carlos Villalobos beautifully, however, lending him an ear for cinematic textures plus the versatility to bring them to life. Distinguishing Esperanza II from the gaggle of ambient flamenco excursions out there is a fine-honed acoustic-guitar approach combined with an aggressive edge to the playing and assertive rhythmic textures. Urban dance beats and multicultural digital samples lend the dreamy compositions a contemporary club slant without stepping on the toes of their traditional flavor. "Mysterioso" kicks off with hip-hop percussion, leans into an electric guitar and bass riff, then sails smoothly into understated Middle Eastern textures. "Foreign Affair" slips a shimmering vibraphone into a bustling guitar theme backed by hurried backing beats suggesting a tasty clash between modern tensions and centuries-old musical styles. None of the excursions would work this well if Villalobos weren't such a nimble player, not only on guitar and keyboards but also using the full recording studio as his instrument. --Bob Tarte
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