ENSEMBLE FOR THE SEICENTO's new CD, Forbidden Dance, delivers a delightful lineup of 13 songs and improvisations taken from the ciacona (Spanish by way of the Americas), folia (Portuguese), and passacalle (Spanish) dance forms - collectively, the Lambada of their day. These dances were once considered so erotic and scandalous that the church banned them under penalty of flogging. But when Italian composers got hold of then (in the late 16th and early 17th centuries), they used their rhythmic schemes to compose wildly romantic love songs, stripping out some of the crudeness but losing none of the exciting syncopation, boldness, and vitality of the scandalous originals. Ensemble for the Seicento handles this music with brio. Melissa Fogarty's singing is at once emotional and cavalier as she switches effortlessly from heartsick lover to romantic cynic. She is joined by spirited playing all around. Most of the music is Spanish in character, with loving attention paid to the complex rhythms. Crackling castanets, snappy palmas, finger snaps, and driving drums are joined by some wicked guitar strumming that would make George Harrison gently weep. It's a pleasure to hear an ensemble that's not afraid to rock when the music warrants it. All the brightness and spirit are vividly captured in a recording that has a detailed but very natural sound. In all, this is exciting music you could play at your next party.