Geoff Berner is a genius. It's quite simple. If you don't know who Geoff Berner is - and it's likely you don't - you really should check out his music.
Geoff Berner is a Canadian singer-songwriter who plays the accordion and his songs are heavily influenced by "klezmer" a style of secular Jewish music. It's a style of music that is enjoying something of a boom with bands such as "Beirut" and "A Hawk and a Hacksaw" leading the way, mixing it with traditional eastern European tunes and instruments.
WHAT IS "KLEZMER"?
Klezmer music originates from the fifteenth century and the name derived from a word that referred to the instruments themselves. It was only in the twentieth century that the name became a label for the genre itself. The musicians that played this music were often scorned - especially by the rabbis - because of their nomadic lifestyle which was considered irreligious. It was because they were treated with disdain that the klezmer musicians took up with Roma performers who were regarded in much the same way and influenced each other.
At one time musicians were banned from playing what the authorities deemed "loud" instruments and so violins and other stringed instruments were most commonly used. As time went on, not only were these rules relaxed but when men were conscripted, they played brass instruments in military bands and this found its way into klezmer music. Today the clarinet is often associated with the vigorous klezmer music of the sort played wedding parties and this became common as Jewish people left Europe for America and were influenced partly by the jazz movement.
If you still aren't sure what klezmer is, think about the sort of music that is played at Jewish weddings when the bride and groom are lifted up on chairs and the guests dance in a circle round them singing "Hava Nagila" - you're pretty much there.
GEOFF BERNER AND KLEZMER MUSIC
"The Wedding Dance of the Widow Bride" is the second in his planned trilogy of klezmer-inspired collections ("Whisky Rabbi" is the first) and the ten tracks on the album follow the theme of love and marriage - with Berner's distinctive and slightly off-centre slant on things.
"Good luck now" is vibrant opener and really demonstrated the links between the Jewish and Roma strands that comprise klezmer music. It also introduces us the the recurring theme of the album and what makes Berner tick - his Jewishness.
"I'm internationally recognised As a really lucky guy. Everybody knows that I'm The Lucky Goddam Jew"
The next number "Weep Bride Weep" is a tragic but hilarious song that acts as a warning to a young bride about what she can expect from married life. Wailing choruses link the verses but the song works its way up to a thrilling finale and whirling fiddles and a rousing final "Weep Bride Weep".
"Now you girlhood is over, and your woman hood lies stretched out before you, Weep Bride, Weep, Like a dull, grey matronly corpse on the coroner's slab"
"I guess you think he's pretty cute and pretty smart, and maybe even pretty Deep Well Weep, Bride, Weep, 'Cause he's a closeted Marxist, who thinks that marriage is state prostitution"
"Traitor Bride" is the sad story of a young woman who falls in love an enemy soldier; when her community discovers this her argument that he was forced to fight against his will has no effect on them and she suffers a heart-breaking fate.
The stand out track - the one that best combines Berner's sardonic wit and his musical talent is "Song to Reconcile".
"This is the song to reconcile The parents of the bride with the parents of the groom/ They're eyeing each other suspiciously, Each on opposite sides of the room.
Well you don't have to love each other, but the band requests That all killing be suspended for the duration of the event"
Track number nine is another memorable song that seems to round the album off perfectly after all the ridicule love has suffered so far over the course of the album. It's another sad song about unrequited love but, to me, it seems to say that in spite of all the cynical things that have said about love so far, human beings still need to be loved.
The final number, an instrumental version of "Weep, Bride, Weep" is a great showcase for the musical talents of not only Geoff but also Wayne Adams on percussion and Diona Davies on violin. It's a track that combines all the typical sounds of klezmer music in a haunting and evocative way.
There are no weak tracks on the album though the only one wouldn't miss is a cover of Leonard Cohen's "Queen Victoria". Musically it does sit comfortably with Berner's own compositions but I am simply not a Leonard Cohen fan and I don't think I am ever likely to change my mind.
The thing I particularly like about Geoff Berner is that he has, by singing in English, made klezmer music perhaps more accessible to non-Jewish people. There are some who say that what Berner produces cannot be called "klezmer" because he does not sing in Yiddish but I would argue that Yiddish is spoken by so few Jewish people in Europe and America these days that it doesn't matter.
It's also important to broaden the repertoire of klezmer music and develop some of the themes - of course, the songs on this album are only influenced by Jewish wedding music, you could never suggest that these sometimes dark and subversive songs could be played at a real wedding! However, if klezmer music is to survive and find news fans who will make sure it doesn't disappear, the subject matter has to be relevant and this is something Geoff Berner has done brilliantly.
My CD came as a digipack with a pull-out colour booklet containing the lyrics and the packaging has some superb artwork including a photograph of a young bride in traditional dress and on the reverse the archetypal toothless old lady compete with heasdscarf and glass of something strong!
So would would like this album? I have to admit it probably is an acquired taste. There is some "language" so stay away if you are easily offended (might as well just stay indoors for the rest of life however if this is the case); some of the themes may also offend - if you are quite narrow-minded - remember Berner is Jewish himself so is allowed to be self-deprecating!
it might appeal to people who enjoy traditional styles of music such as folk or jazz and more generally to people with a good sense of humpur and an open mind.
To find out if Geoff Berner does it for you, check out his My Space where you can listen to some of his tracks before buying
http://www.myspace.com/geoffberner
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Good
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Cover / Inlay Design and Content
Outstanding
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