Flamenco rock | |
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Stylistic origins | Rock, flamenco, progressive rock |
Cultural origins | Late 1960s - Early 1970s, Andalusia, Spain |
Typical instruments | Flamenco guitar, classic guitar, electric guitar, bass, keyboards and percussion (drums, castanets, palmas, Cajón, zapateado) |
Flamenco rock or Andalusian rock is a rock music subgenre that emerged from (but is not limited to) the Spanish region of Andalusia throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. There were some precedents like a couple of albums (Rock encounter (with Joe Beck) and The Soul of Flamenco and the Essence of Rock) by Sabicas, a couple of singles (El garrotín / Tangos de Ketama and Ni recuerdo ni Olvido) by Smash, Gong, Galaxia, Flamenco or even the American band Carmen. However, Triana was recognized as a pioneer of the genre since their music focuses on a complete fusion of the progressive rock and flamenco. Many bands that mix progressive and symphonic rock with flamenco followed them such as Imán Califato independiente, Cai, Guadalquivir, Alameda or Mezquita; that's why the term Andalusian rock may be understood simply as flamenco prog. Medina Azahara turned from progressive to a hard rock outfit in the 1980s and they remain as one of the most popular flamenco rock bands in its home nation. Also other flamenco-influenced styles of rock emerged like the flamenco-folk band Veneno, flamenco-jazz-blues band Pata Negra among other bands that melted flamenco with African, reggae or Latin rhythms.