Alzira Ràdio

Alzira Ràdio is a jolt of local character. It's a Catalan station from Valencia, but don't expect a narrow focus. News bulletins are sharp and frequent - that's your "News radio Spain" fix. Then they'll drop into a reggae set that would make Toots Hibbert smile. The rock picks are solid: think Manu Chao's Latin rock or classic Rolling Stones. Sports coverage? Intense, especially during local football matches. The DJs speak fast Catalan with palpable passion. The stream at 128kbps works fine for voice, but the bass in those reggae tracks gets a bit muddy. Still, this isn't about hi-fi. It's abo…