Search - Ella Baila Sola :: E.B.S. (1998)

The next big thing ?

Troy | the Netherlands | 08/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ella Baila Sola (="She dances alone") are a brilliant Spanish female fronted group featuring vocalists Marilia Casares and Marta Botia, who are as talented as they are goodlooking. Their voices harmonize and complement each other perfectly. The musicianship is first-rate. This, their second CD, is definitely an improvement on their already impressive debut. Its style is more rock oriented and less acoustic-driven than before. The melodies are (still) exquisite without sounding wimpy. Electric guitars and keyboards contribute in equal measure.Don't be put off by the prospect of Spanish lyrics either. Due to the quality of the vocals i would say they are more of an asset than a detriment. Even those who would otherwise swear by the English language will more than likely find them "easy on the ears" if not thoroughly enjoyable. Furthermore Marilia and Marta have proven to have developed as songwriters, who are capable of producing both catchy uptempo songs and gripping ballads that never fail to hit home. Each of the 15 killer tracks on offer is a testament to the truth of this.Opener "Y quisiera" (a single release), "Algo personal", "Que se me va de las manos" (an anthem you will not be able to get out of your head, which in this case is a blessing), the emotion-laden ballad "Mientras mueves el arroz" and kick-ass melodic rock song "Contigo me cruzo deprisa" are all instant classics. The quiet class of "Despidete" makes for a worthy finale by any standard.Ella Baila Sola in my humble opinion are the best (musical) thing to come out of Spain. (I would give this one a 99 out of a 100 - no kidding !) Do yourself a favor: check them out !By the way, if anybody can help me to obtain a video of any of their concerts, please do not hesitate to contact me."