Duende: A guide to the best music around (now with Lorca)

So, the indefinable Duende, the magic ingredient that elevates a sad dance to art or in the great Federico Garcia Lorca's words, the "mysterious power that all may feel but no philosophy may explain." On its face, Lorca was referring to the muse of the Flamenco dance, the surge of spirit that art depends on, which is much, much more than mere talent or style. But that isn't it. Not entirely. Lorca's Duende is in the artiste's fingers straining past the very force that animates her, that brings her in communion with God through the "five senses and the grace of the Duende." It is that chill in your spine you feel, like the poet Tracy K. Smith, when a lover or a situation begs of you to leave Tuesday instead of Monday. The departure is inevitable. Songs end. That is their tragedy. Duende is in those songs that you wish would hold you suspended in their grace just a minute longer.

Without further ado and no order, a selection of 15 songs I love simply for their duende. This spans many genres so I hope that at the end of at least one song, you will feel your blood burn like powdered glass.