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balkan folk

Started by A Passing Turk Slipper, May 04, 2008, 11:21:05 PM

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A Passing Turk Slipper

hey, so there are a few big indie bands from the past few years who get lots of focus put on their balkan/gyspy folk influence. While I quite enjoy Devotchka and Beirut (pretty different I know but both have the influence) and stuff, above all else I just get a desire to hear real balkan music and feel I would/do get a lot more enjoyment out of it. Been listening to a bit of Goran Bregovic - the album with that Dalaras (sp?) person, and really enjoying it but was wondering where else I could start. I like to start at the beginning with things, so if anyone knows of any good recommendations about nice artists, collections of recordings etc it would be very much appreciated. The more specific the better too, not too keen on really general compilations that try to sum up a whole genre of music like you see in the 'world music' sections of virgin etc.

Hank_Kingsley

If you want to get specific try Ivo Papasov. Balkanology is a good album to start with.

But what's the objection with a decent compilation? They're a good introduction, The Rough Guide To The Music Of The Balkans is actually very decent.

Here's a nice (short) track off it by Ayde Mori:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/sjn64g

I've listened to a lot of this type of music and it can be very enjoyable. If I'm honest though, there's a not a huge deal of it I'd rate anywhere near Devotchka (especially as a live experience).

Just out of interest, have you listened to much klezmer music?




A Passing Turk Slipper

Quote from: Hank_Kingsley on May 04, 2008, 11:32:23 PM
If you want to get specific try Ivo Papasov. Balkanology is a good album to start with.

But what's the objection with a decent compilation? They're a good introduction, The Rough Guide To The Music Of The Balkans is actually very decent.

Here's a nice (short) track off it by Ayde Mori:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/sjn64g

I've listened to a lot of this type of music and it can be very enjoyable. If I'm honest though, there's a not a huge deal of it I'd rate anywhere near Devotchka (especially as a live experience).

Just out of interest, have you listened to much klezmer music?
Cheers for your recommendations I'll check them out. I don't have a problem with compilations, I just don't like compilations that try to capture a whole spectrum of music on one or two discs, it's just a personal preference but I think it can be quite damaging if, say, you want to start listening to more blues so you buy some one disc blues compilation and get some John Lee Hooker song followed by some Robert Johnson followed by BB King. It's all so different and huge, and if there's a track I don't like I (subconsciously and completely not on purpose) write off the band/person when I shouldn't, all because some random guy has been given the impossible task of summing up the blues in just over an hour's music and thought X represented that person's output. As I say though, it's just more about how I listen to music and get into new bands rather than being against it in general.
Not heard any Klezmer music no, will investigate. And thanks for that track, I'll download it now and let you know how I find it.



Hank_Kingsley

You make a good point actually, I'm sure there are instances where I've written off someone based on one track and later found out they had some great stuff hidden away out there.

Having said that, I'm not sure if a lot of the artists who make this sort of music (specifically Albanian folk musicians) tend to put out that many albums which are easy to track down...


Mob Bunkhaus

Taraf de Haidouks, for the Roma thing. Good Torygraph article on them here: They're the last great rock'n'roll band - but they don't play rock'n'roll.

Fanfare Ciocarlia and Kocani Orkestar for all your Ottoman military band/delirious wedding music needs.

Apols if these are a bit obvious. I see the last two are on the Borat soundtrack.

butnut

If you want as close an experience to hearing this sort of music played live as is possible from the comfort of your own stereo system, then Jeff Mangum's 'Orange Twin Field Music vol. 1' is an excellent place to start. Just one 35 minute track, which is a montage of what he heard walking round a festival in Bulgaria in 2000 with a DAT recorder. It's really extraordinary, if you've not heard it.

http://www.orangetwin.com/bulgaria.html

It may not be quite what you're after, but I can really recommend a Hungarian group called 'Musica Histrorica' - they play all sorts of old Hungarian music. There's a page of samples of some of their stuff here:

http://www.musicahistorica.hu/balassi.html

Mob Bunkhaus

Taraf de Haidouks with Kocani Orkestar and, on the derbouka, Tarik Tuxsiszoglu. (Tagged with typical Youtube insight, gypsy  brass  hardcore).

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0KUTj7vNS0[/youtube]

A Passing Turk Slipper

thanks for all the replies people, i will check this stuff out, have heard of a few of these but never really listened. Really like that Jeff Mangum disc butnut, I have only heard it once and that was a while ago but I've been wanting to pick it up for a while so will do so as soon as I can. Keep them coming!


fremsley

Quote from: butnut on May 05, 2008, 11:34:37 AM
It may not be quite what you're after, but I can really recommend a Hungarian group called 'Musica Histrorica' - they play all sorts of old Hungarian music.

Fantastic - you couldn't do the same for Turkey could you?

butnut

Quote from: fremsley on May 05, 2008, 08:02:33 PM
Fantastic - you couldn't do the same for Turkey could you?

I don't know very much Turkish music I'm afraid. But I was just looking on iTunes, and there's a scary amount of really interesting stuff up there now. My vow not to buy any music this month looks to be in trouble. These two look really great. but a search for Balkans brings up lots of other interesting albums:

Music of the Balkans vol. 2 - Bulgaria and Turkey (1930-45)
Blowers from the Balkans - Classic Historic Recordings of Wind Instruments

They also seem to be hard to track down in physical form, so I may have to download them.

fremsley

They both sound excellent from the previews. I have to have them.

A Passing Turk Slipper

Yeah, count me in.
I also cannot stop listening to this:

http://download.yousendit.com/885C97DA5D3A6DC6

What. A. Tune(/y). Sounded so fucking awesome in the (Scottish equivalent of) scorching sun today when I was walking through the Meadows. I have a feeling my summer's soundtrack may contain accordions, mandolins and brass.

butnut

The Vol. I of 'Music of the Balkans' also sounds great from the previews. Jeremy Barnes MUST have heard these!

EDIT - that's great Turk Slipper. Thanks for that.

butnut

Another place to find tonnes of this (and all sorts of other music too) is http://skafunkrastapunk.com/ - look in the classical, jazz and world forum and you'll see a 6 page thread entirely devoted to music from the Balkans.

Ja'moke

Balkan Beat Box are well worth checking out.

[youtube=425,350]http://youtube.com/watch?v=Oj3EzTKvUKs[/youtube]