The long-awaited reissue of Alan Lomax's continental European recordings begins with Volume IV: Spain. In his inimitable and casual way, Lomax has assembled a group of songs and dances that exalt the performers without ever losing sight of the elegant simplicity of their music. These recordings were made in the early 1950s in a country that was still very "regional" in nature. The music of Galicians, Castillians, Basques, Andalusians, and many smaller regional cultures is here still in a somewhat pure state (as pure as anything in Europe can claim to be), with radical differences in instrumentation and delivery still evident. At the end of the century, when almost all anyone knows of Spain's music is modern Western pop and flamenco fusion, here is a look at where it all came from. --Louis Gibson

Lovely, ornate guitar solos highlight this above-average budget flamenco offering from the dependable Madacy label. But be prepared for a Latin American rather than strictly Spanish emphasis to a few of the songs. The guitar on "Ritmos del Paraguay" emulates the lushness of the traditional Paraguayan harp repertoire rather than the snap of true flamenco, while the grittiness of "La Luna por el Rocio" is tempered by what sounds like Andean flute accompaniment. And isn't that a piano in the middle of "Sevillanas de la Loteria"? Fortunately there are enough songs in the "Fandangos de Huelva" mold that deliver the clatter of castanets, lively foot-stomping, and rousing, passionate vocals that flamenco aficionados look for. And missing is the stridency that can add soulfulness to the genre but at the expense of casual listening. All in all, the unnamed ensemble acquits itself nicely, especially at this nice price. --Bob Tarte