Federico Garcia Lorca’s popular folk song collection Las Canciones Populares Espanolas was banned under Franco’s dictatorship and today the music survives, but marginally within the Spanish sub-conscious. Taking their cue from Lorca and La Argentinita’s infectious 1931 recording of the songs, Josephine Foster and her partner Spanish musician Victor Herrero have arranged the poetically rich collection for their new acoustic band, formed while living in the Grenadine Sierra. Anda Jaleo is the band’s live recording of Las Canciones; a visceral celebration of the persistence of popular anonymous song.

The album is by turns energetic, elegant, wistful and moving, a truly remarkable homage and notable in particular for Foster’s incredible vocals. Try the uplifting Los Cuatro Muleros and the album’s title track below. Anda Jaleo is a special record.

Download Josephine Foster & The Victor Herrero Band – Los Cuatro Muleros mp3 (from Anda Jaleo)

Download Josephine Foster & The Victor Herrero Band  – Anda Jaleo mp3 (from Anda Jaleo)