Cantiga del Fuego

Audio Mixer: Juan Manuel Castro Prieto.Liner Note Author: Ana Alcaide.Recording information: Audio Active Estudio, San Martin De Valdeiglesias, Madr (11/2011-01/2012).Photographer: Lucía Herrero.Translators: Ute Entwistle; Nathan Burkiewicz.Arranger: Ana Alcaide.Ana Alcaide might be the first to mix the Swedish nyckelharpa with the music of her native Spain (specifically Sephardic-influenced music of Toledo), but it's a blend that works well on this, her third album. Her music's often described as the Toledo soundtrack, and there's certainly a sweep to it, both in the epic scope and the use of older instruments to create a neo-medieval sound. The closest analogue, perhaps, is Loreena McKennitt, and although their areas are very different, there's a distinctly common feel to them. Alcaide's album is a mix of traditional and original pieces, with the acoustic instruments filled out on some tracks by electronic soundscapes (created by Alcaide, who's actually a hell of a musician). There's