Sweet Jesus, amongst Ivo and friends, these chaps are going to stick out like a dick on a cake. Which is great. These kind of events, despite the best of intentions, often end up presenting the region as some kind of feudal peasant colony populated by lace wearing minstrels so a bunch of reasonably fresh-faced grungers should be a suitable counter to that myth.
Crushingly; in the way that only continental-European bands seem able to do these things, this rock band who list Rage, Tool and Public Enemy as their influences have named themselves after this wet turd from Simply Red. Truthfully.
Next up on the tour of the artists currently lined-up for this years Balkan Trafik festival; Brussels own, Les Violons de Bruxelles.
God alone knows why they need three violins to pull this off, it’s all a bit vanilla and a bit of a shame. Surely this isn’t how Django and Stephane imagined it…
One of them gets excited at around 6.40 and stands up.
With the Balkan Trafik festival only a matter of weeks away and a short train ride from London it seems like a good excuse to step out of the M25 and get excited about whats coming up at this year’s celebration of the finest in Balkan music.
First up; Romanian harmonica and bass trio Zmei Trei.
Romania has always had strong links to Western-Europe, an island of romantic language in a sea of Slavic so it comes as no major surprise that these self-proclaimed folklorists bowl out nimble jazz that wouldn’t sound out of place on the streets of Paris.
Frontman, Ioan Constantin wields a large and ungainly chromatic harmonica but manages to produce subtle, gentle melodies which float across a range of Balkan influences as a chord harmonica coughs away rhythmically in the background.
Whilst the tunes offer little of the dissonance and asymmetry that one often associates with the Balkans, here we are offered a different side of life which demonstrates restraint, taste and decency. And there’s noting wrong with that.
Lined-up to play four times in the Vino Zirkus wine bar, there shouldn’t be any excuses for missing out taking in on sitting back with a glass of red, a damp rolly hanging from the corner of your mouth and feeling like a damn gent.
Trading under the ‘Balkan’ brand is a difficult game, write an instant, catchy pop song without an accordion in sight and there’ll be a small contingent lining up to throw you under the bus.
New Yorker/Israeli Balkan Beat Box have spent the last few years sculpting out a niche in the world music scene by putting out consistently inventive pop music that draws, almost understated, influence from a vast range of traditions.
As if they have plotted the musical journey from New York to Jerusalem; negotiating harmonies, inhaling melodies, digesting rhythms.
And so the first offering from forthcoming album ‘Give’ (due March 5th). Creaky synths wobble away briefly before a cheeky trumpet break ticks the Balkan box for the purists and then we’re off.
Where to? Nowhere far, this isn’t trail-blazing stuff, it’s more of a stroll around a lively neighbourhood; one where the struggles and hopes of the people contrast with a colour and chaos whilst boom-boxes compete for airspace.
Grungy loud-hailer vocals rant over a stripped back verse before giving way to a heck of a catchy chorus which should move even the hardest of hearts and the whitest of people.
Whilst it seems unusual to release an obvious summer ‘hit’ so early in the year it works, especially the sentimental influence of sounds from the past 10 years, there’s a degree of 1999 about it (anyone remember Len, New Radicals, The Wiseguys? It’s ok, no-one’s judging you), a healthy splash of RATM and a stripped back production which resembles elements of Beastie Boys or even the Go! team.
It’s catchy, fun, and has got us well excited about the album. Winner.
Nicely sloppy folksy-punk (quickly banish images of The Levellers from your minds) formed in Belgrade by a Canadian. Playing at Jamboree in Cable Street Studios on Friday so almost certainly worth a gander.
One of the joys of the Balkan maze is that it takes little to get lost and even less to stumble over something quite enormous that you had no idea was there.
How Gypsy Hill have stayed under my radar until now is almost certainly related to general ignorance, complete lack of long term memory and suitably JimBeamed state every time someone slips me a flyer at a club night. These things considered, it’s still a blinding oversight as front men DJ Kobayashi and Herbert Newbert are doing a hell of lot towards the promotion of the London gypsy scene by organising the monthly ‘Twisted Gypsy’ club night at Inspiral, Camden (review forthcoming) and transporting gypsybeat joy around the nations summer festival circuit.
Not only is this an excellent roma-influenced brass stomper, but the addition of Dick Dale-esque surf guitar, intelligently programmed world beats and electronica glitches bring a personal uniqueness to it which allows it to stand alone as its own music. It’s good fun, really good fun and I love that I could listen to it without holding it up against the Balkans.
Except, of course I can’t help myself. The brass isn’t great. And every part of me wants it to be. It’s tight enough and has the balls that more traditional groups tend to lack but the simple arrangements don’t allow enough of the emotion to be carried through the brass; No wailing tears or hysterical laughter are being blasted into my soul till, in submission, it can only feel what the performer wants it to.
Whilst this could obviously be construed as criticism, it’s not really. It’s just an observation of how we stand alongside the native Balkan brass players and appropriators and how our priorities differ.
Importantly though, it really doesn’t matter to the enjoyment of it all. I haven’t been this excited about seeing a band live for a long while and that’s a testament to the unique quality of these tunes.
Jan 20th @ Ginglik, Shepherds Bush
Jan 21st @ inSpiral, Camden
Feb 24th @ inSpiral, Camden
Check out http://soundcloud.com/gypsy-hill for plenty more.
Boring:
Tunein.com is a fantastic interface that lets you search and listen to live radio streaming from around the world and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Interesting:
Right now you could be listening to ‘A’ Net radio broadcasting from Snow Hill Island, Antarctica or Polynesie 1ere 95.2fm fighting out of Papeete, French Polynesia.
Money Shot:
Just click the link above and get on with non-stop Eastern-European influenced gems.
News from the brilliant Alejandro and the Magic Tombolinos who start a 12-date national tour at the end of January, with the criminal exception of a London date.
Citizens of Hull! Womenfolk of Stratford Upon Avon! Clergymen of Ipswich! Rejoice!
The Tombolinos are often dangerously described as ‘World Music fusion’. Three words that should rightfully set alarms bells ringing. However, this is the real deal; barely a note or chord used just because it can be and genres are blended skilfully and respectfully. This one’s a ‘must see’.
Can’t trust me yet? No worries, this should set your mind at ease.
Book a cat-sitter and put the landing light on a timer; Once you’re swept up in the party you may never return home.
