The very existence of Havalina raises an interesting question: If a band exclusively records concept albums, does that nullify the concept of a concept album? Havalina cult-ivated their following by keeping their fans guessing. Unfalteringly, they have chronicled their career with albums like "Diamond & the Fish" - the spy-flick jazz album, followed by "Russian Lullabies," - the suicidal-Marxist Slavic-rock album, and then there was "America" - the apple-pie, honky-tonk rock-jazz album. "Space, Love & Bullfighting" is indeed an ode to . . . space, love, and bullfighting. The proof is in the pudding.

Matt Wignall's ten-year old "science project" takes another twist, and devout Havalina-heads will undoubtedly move comfortably along in this direction. Think of it as a union of jazz, rock, Latin spice, rockabilly and sci-fi sounds that bring to mind Peter Schilling's "Coming Home." His perspicaciously eccentric sense of humor finds its way into the lyrics, his droll delivery, and their live show. Listening to Havalina inevitably brings admiration for the fierce upright bass playing of Orlando Greenhill, Erick Diego Nieto's breakneck drumming, Mercedes Stevens' sassy guitars and vocals, and David Maust's ardent love for Farfisas, hurdy-gurdys and Moogs. Inasmuch as Havalina continues to dance away from conventionality, they actually define themselves by not defining themselves.