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Two radically different strains of Spanish music will be presented tomorrow night, February 1, at the Chicago Cultural Center. At 6 PM the Madrid-based group La Musgaña play their first Chicago date in more than a decade—they played the Old Town School back in 1995—working a style that’s got nothing to do with flamenco. On the recent Temas Profanos (Mad River) the group delivers an ancient sound that reflects Spain’s northern European roots, combined with Moroccan elements. In northern regions like Galicia and Asturias certain Spanish groups play straight-up Celtic music, but La Musgaña work in the middle, sculpting melancholy melodies on accordion, bagpipes, and wooden flute over nimble electric bass lines (and sometimes jaunty hand percussion). The group isn’t overly concerned with purity, but they do manage to preserve an oft-ignored part of Spain’s rich musical heritage. That said, I have an almost irrational dislike of Celtic music, so don’t expect to see me down there.
