Jill Turner reckons if you're looking for something different from your global grooves then open your mind to an injection of psychedelic soul and freak beat. The latest in retro complilations, Soul Sensacional Vol.2, stays closer to home, as the Vampisoul crew lift the lid on the late 60's soul scene in Spain, a country still under Franco's dictatorship.

This album on the Vampisoul label, is a break from the usual retro compilations concentrating on West Africa and the Central Americas. It's is a full on psychedlic work out which invokes scenes of swinging dancefloors and joyous carefree experimentation as turtle necks, mohair suits and miniskirts start to give way to the odd kaftan and long beaded necklace. Hammond organs play to their upper limits, trumpets mark time whilst electric guitars pick out the melody.

Thirty two tracks made up from hit acts including Los Bravos, Los Pekenikes and Manolo y Ramon and the obscurer names of Jae's Soul and Conjunto Brilliant's all contriibuting to a very Spanish Soul explosion. They took risks and included music form other sub genres, progressive R&B, psych pop, sunshine soul refusing to limit themselves. Besides why limit yourself with merely imitating the sounds coming form the US and why frustrate yourself when your recording techniques cannot match the innovations made by the Beatles.

Its all catalogued here, the hits and the rare tracks with a booklet containing unseen band photos and picture sleeves of all the tracks.

The explosion in popularity of soul in Spanish pop meant that by the late 60's most bands had two alternatives, join the psychedelic movement or take the soul sound coming from the Tamla Mowtown and Atlantic artists. Excitingly, these bands have avoided making an either or decision, they've taken it all, twisted it to fit and created Spanish Soul - Sensacional Soul Vol 2 will have you shimmying and freaking into the small hours.

Buy a copy of Soul Sensacional Vol.2