Back in October I was in Amsterdam for the ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event). It was three days of seminars and focus groups related to the dance music industry. Most importantly though, it was three nights of non-stop partying all over Amsterdam's best clubs with some of the top DJ’s in the world. On one of those nights I went to Paradiso to see Arling and Cameron perform in one of the upstairs rooms. The main auditorium was packed that night and the sounds coming through the doors was mesmerizing. It was the Barcelona band Ojos de Brujo.....they are one of the most strikingly original bands of the new millennia. The name Ojos de Brujo translates as “Eyes of the Wizard” and there is no one quite like them; not only because of their vibrant, seemingly supernatural musicality, but also because of their radical contemporary edge and strong collective spirit. They reflect their Spanish and gypsy roots, but travel light years beyond the traditional flamenco sound. Their live shows have become stuff of legend, and they have left a path of sold-out shows and stunned audiences in their wake since the European release earlier this year of their third, long-awaited album, Techarí. It is an ambitious, self-produced journey, recorded both abroad in Cuba and New York and in a studio at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains, close to the birthplace of Salvador Dalí. Full of innovative musical ideas developed on their celebrated Barí tour, when they were wowing crowds across the world at festivals like Womad, the Montreal Jazz Festival, and NY Summerstage, Techarí represents their maverick spirit and dedication to pushing the boundaries of their sound and experimenting with the awesome sonic power of collective musical freedom. They work with DJ’s scratching in flamenco rhythms, and on the flip side take flamenco into an urban arena. During their concerts they’d go from hip hop to jazz, to rock, ragga, funk, and all kinds of Latin, East Asian, and Hindi directions. Ojos de Brujo’s parameters are so wide they are able to create an incredibly infectious sound that crosses all borders. I was amazed that evening I saw them live in Amsterdam and rushed out and bought all the import material I could get my hands on. Now available Stateside through Six Degrees, Techari is a must have for anyone wanting to push their musical boundaries.