So you dig a bit of Beirut and you’d like to hear more Eastern Folk Gypsy music. One option is going straight to the source, Taraf de Haidouks (frantic Romanian folk troupe) , Kocani Orkestar (Balkan Brass Band, song used in “Borat: The Movie”) or the Electric Gypsyland compilations where Western artists such as Animal Collective, Tunng and Cibelle remix these Balkan groups. Also recommended is the soundtrack to 2005’s Everything is Illuminated by Paul Cantelon and friends.
Another option is to explore the work of Jeremy Barnes and Heather Trost otherwise known as A Hawk and A Hacksaw who, as well as being heavily influenced by the above artists, have just released an EP recorded with The Hun Hangár Ensemble from Budapest. Like the Electric Gyspyland compilations it’s a meeting of Western Europe/US with Eastern European and it sounds wonderful. I missed their performance with Beirut in the Olympia last year which is unfortunate as their last Irish headline gig was cancelled due to lack of interest.
Of the two tasters from the EP here, “Ihabibi” is a percussive delight with horns aplenty (I’ve just learned the percussive instrument is called a Cimbalom) , while “Zozobra” is the sound of an accordion chasing a violin over the rooftops of Budapest. The EP is 8 tracks long and entitled The Hun Hangár Ensemble EP on Leaf.
MP3s
A Hawk and a Hacksaw – Zozobra
[audio:https://nialler9.com/mp3/AHAAH_-_Zozobra.mp3]A Hawk and a Hacksaw – Ihabibi
[audio:https://nialler9.com/mp3/AHAAH_-_Ihabibi.mp3]
More MP3s and a video after the jump.
Taraf de Haidouks – The Return of the Magic Horses
Kocani Orkestar – Siki Siki Baba
[audio:https://nialler9.com/mp3/Kocani_Orkestar_Siki_siki_baba.mp3]Paul Cantelon – Odessa Medley (2005, Everything is Illuminated Soundtrack)
[audio:https://nialler9.com/mp3/Paul_Cantelon_-_Odessa Medley.mp3]
Video – Taraf de Haidouks:
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Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
Excellent selections! Thanks Niall.
Excellent selections! Thanks Niall.
Never seen / heard a Hawk & A Hacksaw live would LOVE to…addicted to their album ‘The Way the Wind Blows’ really lovely stuff nice folk rhythms, some of it was recorded with Fanfare Ciocărlia.
For something more fired up again listen to French / Canadian twopiece – Vialka – awesome described on their myspace as “Turbofolkgypsypunk Micro-Orchestra” – if you can catch a live performance by all accounts it will bend your brain!
Great stuff on John Zorn’s label, Tzadik (http://www.tzadik.com) there’s some good experimental bits, a modern take on the Jewish / Gypsy styles – one band I particularly like on the label are Zakarya, their album “Something obvious” is pure savage.
Never seen / heard a Hawk & A Hacksaw live would LOVE to…addicted to their album ‘The Way the Wind Blows’ really lovely stuff nice folk rhythms, some of it was recorded with Fanfare Ciocărlia.
For something more fired up again listen to French / Canadian twopiece – Vialka – awesome described on their myspace as “Turbofolkgypsypunk Micro-Orchestra” – if you can catch a live performance by all accounts it will bend your brain!
Great stuff on John Zorn’s label, Tzadik (http://www.tzadik.com) there’s some good experimental bits, a modern take on the Jewish / Gypsy styles – one band I particularly like on the label are Zakarya, their album “Something obvious” is pure savage.
http://www.mostarsevdahreunion.com/
these guys are pretty good too
http://www.mostarsevdahreunion.com/
these guys are pretty good too
villalobos’s fizeheuer ziheuer samples some balkan gypsy folk’s folk.
villalobos’s fizeheuer ziheuer samples some balkan gypsy folk’s folk.
[quote post=”409″]villalobos’s fizeheuer ziheuer samples some balkan gypsy folk’s folk.[/quote]
that song is infectious
[quote post=”409″]villalobos’s fizeheuer ziheuer samples some balkan gypsy folk’s folk.[/quote]
that song is infectious
just saw taraf last night at the barbican in london, and fanfare ciocarlia on wednesday. amazing gigs. go out of your way to see them. fanfare had the whole place on their feet and dancing from the very beginning – and the barbican can often be quite stuffy – and taraf did the same by the end of their gig. fanfare also had the amazing Macedonian singer Esma Rezdepova singing with them. You can find one of her songs on a cd called Rromano Suno put out by B92, a belgrade radio station. also boban marcovic, trumpet player and brass band leader, is playing at the southbank in london in july.
I also love the jumpstyle videos you put recently. try this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoPl0XoQguQ
just saw taraf last night at the barbican in london, and fanfare ciocarlia on wednesday. amazing gigs. go out of your way to see them. fanfare had the whole place on their feet and dancing from the very beginning – and the barbican can often be quite stuffy – and taraf did the same by the end of their gig. fanfare also had the amazing Macedonian singer Esma Rezdepova singing with them. You can find one of her songs on a cd called Rromano Suno put out by B92, a belgrade radio station. also boban marcovic, trumpet player and brass band leader, is playing at the southbank in london in july.
I also love the jumpstyle videos you put recently. try this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoPl0XoQguQ
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