On previous Spain albums, smokily spiritual blues guitar drifts across the provocatively expansive spaces between vocalist Josh Haden’s bare bass parts.
But The Soul Of Spain sees two uncharacteristically animated numbers, Because Your Love and Miracle Man, chug past in standard moody alt rock mode, and new drummer Matt Mayhall clings to metronomically regular rhythms throughout, as if to allay the more timid listener’s fear of the unfamiliar.
Among the album’s stronger songs, the closer Hang Your Head Down Low, uses a gospel Hammond organ drone to focus Spain’s most salient stylistic points, – silence, steadfastness, and fatalistic faithful stoicism.
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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John Robins, Comedian
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Keilloh, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com