Rough Guide To Balkan Gypsies, The - Various Artists

Advantages: Fast, lively, talented, rare sounds
Disadvantages: None that I can think of except it might be difficult to understand lyrics

...Firstly a little bit about the band as I notice there is a distinct lack of reviews about them. Taraf de Haidouks are the Buena Vista Social Club of Europe, they're unbelievably talented musicians from a small village in Romania. The band line-up changes and they are forever willing to experiment with other musicians. Having been to a few live concerts of them myself, I can say that they are very open, friendly, talented and create a vigour and excitement about the crowd that can rarely be compared. Now on to the album - Band of Gypsies was recorded in Bucharest in the year 2000, it was the 4th album put out by Taraf De Haidouks, looking to integrate other Balkan styles they invited Kocani Orkestar (from Macedonia), Filip Simeonov a clarinet player from Bulgaria and percussionist Tarik Tuysuzoglu from Turkey to play alongside them... Read review

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Advantages: Some great recordings of rare tracks
Disadvantages: Misses some of Romica's best works

...a strange voice, sometimes incredibly high other times really low - quite similar to a black male blues artist. She was infact likened to female jazz/blues legend by being dubbed the "Billy Holiday of The East" The arrival of Balkan pop in the 90's led to the downfall in popularity of Lautari and unfortunately she died in a car crash in Bucharest in 1996. Whilst this album misses some songs like my personal fave Saraiman or others like La Mai da o damigeana, Inimoara, Inimoara and Mai Spiritule, it does cover raw early songs that generally can only be found in poor condition, the re-mastered versions on this album are sublime and the recording quality is great. You can feel both the energy and pain in these tracks as Puceanu sings simple songs of suffering and desire of simple peasant folk as well as be witness to wonderfully talented backing... Read review

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Advantages: AMAZING CD AND BOOK
Disadvantages: none

...this is such a briliant cd and book guide. i would highly reccomend this to all indian musicians and people interested in studying indian classical music , specifically north indian aka hindustani music. it has a deep explanation of the basics of indian music so that you can truly appreciate the ragas (melodic structures) and talas (rhythmic cyles) and more features unique to indian music. the cds are also great as they are thoroughly explained in the book and you can even play the music on your western or indian instrument as the music is written in the book in western notation. the cds are not only great to listen to to learn the music side but are also great performances by some of the most distinguished artists in india.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful