Personnel: Nicolas Reyes (vocals, guitar, percussion, claps, palmas); Andre Reyes (vocals, guitar, claps, palmas); Francois "Canut" Reyes, Patchai Reyes (vocals, guitar); Jon Carin (guitar, strings, autoharp, flute, accordion, piano, keyboards, bass, percussion, electronic percussion, samples, loops); Georges Reyes (guitar, background vocals); Tonino Baliardo, Paco Baliardo (guitar); Abud Abdel Al (violin); Nigel Shaw (flute, whistle); Shawn Farrenden (didgeridoo); Brian Edwards (saxophone); Eddie Thornton (trumpet); Trevor Edwards (trombone); Pino Pallandino (bass); Manu Katche (drums); Hossam Ramzy (Egyptian percussion); Paul Reyes (background vocals).

Engineers: Myriam Eddaira, Patrick Jauneaud, Kevin Jacobs.

Recorded at Recall Studio, France; and Metropolis Studios, London, England.

COMPAS was nominated for a 1998 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album.

Combining the drama and passion of Flamenco with the mysticism of gypsy culture, the Gipsy Kings have created a unique, infectious hybrid. The first element of the Gipsy Kings' music that strikes the listener is the Spanish influence: buoyant strumming, sometimes a half-dozen or more Flamenco guitars and dizzying, dramatic lead work. To this foundation they add an exotic lyrical melange of French, Spanish, and the language of their gypsy forebears.

From there, all multi-culti hell breaks loose. Utilizing digeridoo, autoharp, strings, horns, and an impressive bank of percussion and handclaps, the Gipsy Kings seem to visit every imaginable musical tradition, assimilating them all into their own. COMPAS features a studio version of their live sing-along favorite "Ami Wah Wah" as well as a Flamenco reading of "Funiculi, Funicula." The Gipsy Kings display not only their respect for tradition, but also a modernity which almost no other world music group can muster.

Entertainment Weekly (8/15/97, p.75) - "...the...Gipsy Kings seized acclaim in the past few years with a Gypsy/flamenco hybrid that goes down easy but buzzes with passion and unplugged rusticity. The story continues on this album of simple, romantic tunes....Listen to it attentively or as sonic decor: It works either way." - Rating: B-