by Kieran McCarthy
After their internationally successful 1988 self-titled debut, few have followed the the Gypsy Kings' noteworthy fusion of their distinctive flamenco-inflected pop with other international influences. Love & Liberte, a 1994 Elektra Records release, is one of their few compilations of all-new material, one that demonstrates this growth perhaps more than any of their other projects. One of their more extravagant songs, &No Vivire& implements a prominent bassline and strong brass accents in the chorus. Equally pleasant but slightly less authentic, &Escucha Me& crosses their Spanish guitar sound with a full reggae ensemble. The album's zenith hits with two instrumental tracks, &Guitarra Negra& and &Love and Liberte.& &Guitarra Negra& shows off castanets with bongos. Every few bars, the intensity seems to reach a peak, only to retreat and regroup for another charge. The title track evolves slowly, with a gradual guitar and bass crescendo highlighted by a series of sparse piano chords on selected downbeats for emphasis. Though not as energetic as their best work, Love and Liberte is still an easy album for a Gypsy Kings fan to appreciate.