Mondays mp3: More Gypsy Pride

CD REVIEW
Gipsy.cz: Reprezent
(Indies Scope)

Unabashedly Gypsy, unabashedly modern, Radoslav “Gipsy” Banga raises his hands and eyes on the cover of his new album. Shocked at his musical success? Praying for his culture’s survival? Or perhaps (note the bed-head) awakened suddenly to the duty to continue spreading a socially conscious message along with his infectious, feel-good Roma fusion?

Whatever it “reprezents,” the cover opens to reveal an album that I’m told is full of social content but appeals to this non-Roma as a damn fine party album and a fantastic fusion of traditional and modern sounds. From ballads like “Vecernice” to scratch-laced rap tunes like “Dobry Den” to full-tilt dance numbers like the opening “Benga Beating (video here),” Gipsy.cz’s varied compositions are unceasingly engaging, and flat-out fun, with a rare, energizing in-your-face cultural pride (the kind also seen in the Maori-fusion of Moana and the Moahunters). Highly recommended!

[mp3] Gipsy.cz: Gejza Usti
from the album Reprezent

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Monday's mp3: More, Love!

CD REVIEW

Terne Chave - More, Love!

Another shipment from my friends at Indies Scope again has me marveling at the diversity in the Czech music scene. A clear standout is the oddly titled disc from Terne Chavre.

Distinctly Roma vocals ground the clever folk-rock arrangements of both originals and traditional songs, telling tales of love, lust, cats, beautiful girls, more love... There seems to be a theme here! That theme would explain the CD's title, ... if "More, Love!" weren't actually Czech for "Money, Mate!"

The boisterous title track has something to do with moneylending, but the English lyric translations can be nearly as baffling as the confusing order in which the lyrics are printed. Still, that's easily forgotten in the rich love of life (and music) so obvious in "Amara Chaja / Our Girls," "Aj Jaj Jaj," and pretty much all the rest of the album.

[mp3] Terne Chavre: Sukar Jakha (Beautiful Eyes)
more info

and a little visual treat from the band...

Terne Chave -

Also freshly released is the new album by Gipsy.cz, which you know you'll be hearing more about soon. Stay tuned.