José Angel Hevía is a talented gaitero, or bagpipe player, from the Asturias region of Spain, next to the Celtic region of Galicia and with similar Celtic influences. Both Galicia and the Asturias produce many talented bagpipers and Celtic-influenced groups (Hevía, frequent Cheiftains collaborator Carlos Nuñez, Milladoiro), but Hevía is a breed apart.

On "The Other Side" (Al Otro Llado in Spanish), he blends the electronic gaita, an instrument he developed himself, with Asian, Celtic and Middle Eastern influences--Arabic melodies and soloists, Buddhist monks chanting, haunting choral arrangements of traditional songs...blended with modern sound effects, synthesizers, and haunting instrumentals on low whistle and gaita. A perfect gift for the world music fan and a great introduction to Spanish bagpiping.

Forget what you know about the bagpipes. We're not in Scotland here. As a Spaniard, Hevia has taken the 'pipes to places you've not heard it before. Blending Celtic, Southern European, North African, and Middle Eastern influences, Hevia has delivered a true world music album. And it has a darn good dance beat, too! Truly one of the most enjoyable recordings in my collection. If this type of music interests you, I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you are adventurous where music is concerned, you won't be disappointed. This is great listening!

I think this CD is at least as good as Hevia's debut, Tierra de Nadie, contrary to popular belief. It starts of with Tanzila, an oriental flavoured song with lots of metalic-acoustic guitar in the intro. The bagpipe rhythm comes out strong over the top, with great percussion and an orchestra. Another highlight is El Saltón, which is deep and mystical in the beginning, followed by a killer pipe solo. It also features Hevia's sister on the drum. The hidden bonus track is another gem, it gives visions of mist swirling round and round on a plain. Baños de Budapest is the most diverse song on the album, ranging between haunting bagpipe and slow, echoing drum to shimmering Celtic/Asturian reels. The whole album shines with influences from all over the world. Hevia has done a brilliant job with this one.

This album takes you to another plain, samplings from each country blends fascinating arrangements and original compositions that seem to linger with you long after you push the stop button on your remote.

Hevia is a gifted artist/musician/composer with a distinctive sound and a style that won't quit...electronic bagpipes, flute, low whistle and programming is his speciality, music that gets under your skin...many are from the days when his grandfather was cutting the hay.

Simplicity is what most of us search for, this latest release from Hevia and Higher Octave Music has given us a glimpse of what is on "THE OTHER SIDE".

Total Time: 52:49 on 12 Tracks ~ Higher Octave Music HOWCD-50794 ~ (2000)

Hevia is a fresh new artist that is probably one of the best kept secrets in the recording industry. His first album was a breath of fresh air. His second is more of the same. The quality of musicianship is as good as the first album, but the fresh edge that was there on the first album is not as prevelant on this one. However, if you liked the first you will probably like this one as well. He tries to vary the feel by incorporating the music of different locales. But it just ends up sounding very similar to what we've already heard. Inspite of this what we hear is a continuation of a fresh new sound with a little bit of the edge taken off of it. Cheers iilloozz