POTATO – La Fiesta Ska – CD

Sello: Brixton Records (Silver Bullets)
Referencia: SB-006-CD
Formato: compact disc, album
Lanzamiento: 15/12/19

Following their recent and successful farewell tour (or was it?) in 2009, and with the band’s many friends and fans in mind – as well as lovers of Jamaican music in general – POTATO have finally decided to release a new album on their SILVER BULLETS sub-label (December 2009). Under the unambiguous title ‘LA FIESTA SKA’, 12 previously unreleased tracks are now being released, recorded in 2005 and 2006 during sessions in which the band set out to bring together many friends who were also musicians and singers, and who were passionate about ska and reggae. In short, they turned the studio into a party with loads of guests.

It’s an album with no additives or preservatives, yet it has retained all its qualities during the time it has spent in the can until now, when we can finally savour it. The diverse group of guests – many of whom were practically kidnapped and dragged to the studio – made it impossible to consider subtle tweaks or record new takes. It was a matter of cooking up a new recipe with a multitude of very familiar ingredients that had never been combined in that way before, and which, moreover, had to be consumed immediately. The formula wasn’t in any cookbook, so, guided by the teachings of the great chefs of Jamaican music, they created what we can now savour: a creative feast, far removed from purism. What’s more, the main ingredient appeals to young and old alike: POTATO.

The following are taking part in this event: Julio Romero, a former member of the group and a member of the Basque Youth Symphony Orchestra; Javier Olloqui, composer and arranger of many of the group’s albums and Potato’s eternal mentor; Arturo Blasco, author of guitar method books and a member of bands such as Itoiz and La Polla Records; Bingen Mendizábal, a regular contributor to film soundtracks who plays the violin on the track ‘Wester’; Pedro Reguero, accordionist and honorary member of the Moscow School of Music; Raúl Romo, saxophonist in numerous projects including Ortophonk, Quinteto de la Muerte and Hot Wok…; Roberto Miranda, a master of 18th-century guitar who currently lives in Cuba; Javi Antoñana on his flamenco guitar; Mikel Parrutxo, an extraordinary DJ, member of the group Ortophonk and lecturer in DJing at the University of the Basque Country, etc., etc., etc.