In 1993, multi-instrumentalists Fain Sanchez Duenas and Vincent Molino from Spain formed Radio Tarifa with singer/songwriter Benjamin Escoriza and released Rumba Argelina, an album that blended Flamenco, Arab-Andalusian, Arabic, Moorish and Mahgrebi music with that from the Renaissance, Mediterranean and even the Caribbean.

The music was extraordinary. It was revolutionary in the sense the musicians researched the background to many of these styles and genres, but instead of merely blending them all together to recreate the past, they combined the past (pre-1492, prior to the expulsion of the Moors and Jews from southern Spain) with their own melodies; and while they used some ancient instruments, they also added electric bass and saxophone.

The album was a huge success and the band toured internationally.

The name Radio Tarifa is derived from an imaginary radio station – Tarifa is a small town in Cadiz province of Andalusia. Importantly, the band’s commitment to research revealed some of the musical styles that existed before 1492, especially the roots of flamenco.

The band disbanded in 2006 (the last release was a live album in 2004) and then in 2012, singer Escoriza died.

With the loss of such a talent, it would not have been surprising if the band had never recorded again, but Duenas and Molina are not done yet. Radio Tarifa is back with a new album, La Noche on the UK-based record label World Circuit, which is No.1 in the Transglobal World Music Chart for November.

The 14-track album opens with the title track, which features the gruff voice of Escoriza (taken from an old studio recording) on a moving song about pursuing love in the city. It is the only song that features the late singer – the rest of the album’s tracks are shared with nine different singers. The opener segues into a flamenco tango rhythm on Me Preguntas sung beautifully by flamenco singer Javier Castrillon, who is also outstanding on another flamenco song, Tarantos.

Duenas features on his original song Luz, which means to fight and is about having the courage to stand up and make a difference; Duenas provides all the vocals and plays all the instruments.

The album also breaks out of the region to explore other music and places. A song from Brittany, La Nina Del Almendro Viejo, pops up with the superb Spanish folk singer Blanca Paloma adding vocals.

One of my favourites is the Greek-style song Ay Ojos Negros (Ah Black Eyes) which is transformed using Spanish vocals, cello and lilting guitar; the song pairs with another Greek tune, Sabah, which is a feel-good groove about having a good time (naturally, with a nod to ouzo).

Moving easily across the Mediterranean, the band alights in Italy for a medieval tune from the 14th century, Quel Sol Che Raggia, which is superbly sung by Blanca Paloma.

Perhaps the surprise of the album is the well-known Japanese song Sakura, which is given the flamenco guitar treatment, along with Japanese koto (a zither), banjo and lovely vocals from Mizuki Wildenhahn. Close your eyes and you can imagine the cherry blossoms falling.

The list of instruments for this fascinating album includes not only the usual flamenco guitar but also bouzouki, gaita (bagpipes), guimbri, argul and the wonderfully named crumhorn.

Music fans had no real indication that Radio Tarifa would ever record again, so La Noche is a real treat for fans of southern Spanish music and its history. The surviving members of the band have picked up where they left off and taken the music on. Hopefully, we will see them perform again on international stages.

Readers may remember mention of another album released this year by the Al Andaluz Project, The Songs Of Iman Kandoussi: Traditional Arabic Andalusian (Galileo Music Communication). This album explores the Arabo-Andalusian repertoire and the influence Andalusian culture has had on music in North Africa, and it perfectly pairs with Radio Tarifa’s new release. These two albums give the listener an insight into the music of southern Spain and North Africa (especially Morocco). Both albums are highly recommended.

More information from radio-tarifa.com.

John Clewley can be contacted at clewley.john@gmail.com.