Gypsy Hill – Balkan Beast
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.
