Jaime Urrutia Essentials

Although he first surfaced within Spain's post-Franco La Movida movement of countercultural jubilation, singer/songwriter Jaime Urrutia soon left the clangor of post-punk behind for a rejuvenated consideration of the pop form. Even after gradually easing bossa nova and samba rhythms into his deceptively straightforward compositions, Urrutia continued to celebrate the raw twang and stripped-down scuffle of rockabilly, favouring crisp guitar riffs and the steady thwack of no-nonsense drums. And when he really digs his teeth into a ballad, Urrutia positively smolders with gruff melodrama.