Balamouk

Amazon.com
The relationship between Eastern European gypsy music and Yiddish klezmer has always been slightly mysterious. As traditional "outsiders" to Christian village culture, both gypsy and Jewish musicians earned a living in the preindustrial past by integrating local melodies with whatever else was in vogue for weddings, banquets, and other celebrations. The result was plenty of stylistic cross-fertilization, though the particulars are lost to history. According to the French-based ensemble Les Yeux Noirs, however, the paths of the gypsies and the klezmorim don't merely cross; the two groups walk in one another's footprints. So if "Tchaye" simultaneously resembles a Spanish flamenco, Balkan hora, Yiddish freylekh, and Middle Eastern belly dance, the genre confusion fuels the fun. Classically trained violinists Eric and Olivier Slabiak founded Les Yeux Noirs (the name comes from a Django Reinhardt tune, "Black Eyes") after falling in love with the music of the Jewish diaspora and all its far-flung influences. The band matches the mind-boggling precision of its performances with the deepest soul. "Trionica" overlaps accordion and cimbalom melodies, while Pascal Rondeau flings off French gypsy-jazz guitar chords in a driving hailstorm of notes. "Guene Roma" adds a tuba to the acoustic mix, while "Joc de Loop" knocks the traditional melody for a loop with swing-style, cross-cultural controlled pandemonium. Vocals worthy of a cantor on "Liebkeit" ("tenderness") boost the pleasure quotient another couple of notches on a disc already saturated with satisfying style. Although Balamouk is Romanian for "house of fools," the band shell is clearly populated with musical wiseacres. --Bob Tarte

Balamouk,Les Yeux Noirs,World Village,France,Int'l & World Music,Jewish,Pop,World Music

Average customer rating: You will not have lived a full life without them energy, emotion, and creativity A "must have" No fools here Falling in Love

Balamouk Les Yeux Noirs Manufacturer: World Village ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Jewish & Yiddish Music | Folk | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Tchorba Live Band of Gypsies Suites Wonder Wheel ASIN: B000067NUG Release Date: 2002-06-11

Tracks:

1. Balamouk
2. Tchaye
3. Yiddishe Mama
4. Cioara
5. Trionica
6. Rozinkhes
7. Vulpe
8. Guene Roma
9. Lluba
10. Joc De Loop
11. Lodz
12. Liebkeit (La Tendresse)
13. Bonus Track 1

Amazon.com

The relationship between Eastern European gypsy music and Yiddish klezmer has always been slightly mysterious. As traditional "outsiders" to Christian village culture, both gypsy and Jewish musicians earned a living in the preindustrial past by integrating local melodies with whatever else was in vogue for weddings, banquets, and other celebrations. The result was plenty of stylistic cross-fertilization, though the particulars are lost to history. According to the French-based ensemble Les Yeux Noirs, however, the paths of the gypsies and the klezmorim don't merely cross; the two groups walk in one another's footprints. So if "Tchaye" simultaneously resembles a Spanish flamenco, Balkan hora, Yiddish freylekh, and Middle Eastern belly dance, the genre confusion fuels the fun. Classically trained violinists Eric and Olivier Slabiak founded Les Yeux Noirs (the name comes from a Django Reinhardt tune, "Black Eyes") after falling in love with the music of the Jewish diaspora and all its far-flung influences. The band matches the mind-boggling precision of its performances with the deepest soul. "Trionica" overlaps accordion and cimbalom melodies, while Pascal Rondeau flings off French gypsy-jazz guitar chords in a driving hailstorm of notes. "Guene Roma" adds a tuba to the acoustic mix, while "Joc de Loop" knocks the traditional melody for a loop with swing-style, cross-cultural controlled pandemonium. Vocals worthy of a cantor on "Liebkeit" ("tenderness") boost the pleasure quotient another couple of notches on a disc already saturated with satisfying style. Although Balamouk is Romanian for "house of fools," the band shell is clearly populated with musical wiseacres. --Bob Tarte

Customer Reviews:

You will not have lived a full life without them.......2003-09-21

Over a year ago, a festival day full of Reggae, Salsa, African and other World Music was cut in two by the performance of Les Yeux Noirs. Suddenly there was them, and then everything else. They were like nothing I'd known before, in sound, arrangement, execution, energy, everything. Balamouk soon came to top all my favorite CDs, old and new, Jazz, Pop, Blues, all of them. For awhile I thought I had simply stumbled onto the genres of Gypsy and Klezmer music, and would explore them and make them part of my collection. But that wasn't it. Les Yeux Noirs' sound stands out among Gypsy music almost as much as it does against anything else. Their sound is their own. It is Gypsy music stretched even farther in the emotions of joy, grief, and insuppressable life and vigor than ever before. Balamouk has met its challenge only from the band's subsequent Live CD. They are two sides of the same incredible being, the first formally attired, the other casual sport; both celebrating life with great passion and humor. But don't stop with the CD...look for the next tour of this band and go get the whole experience.

energy, emotion, and creativity.......2003-08-16

I bought this and another cd from Les Yeux Noirs after seeing them in concert. The members of this band have impressive talent, highlighted by the Slabiak brothers' incredible violin skills. While the earlier CD reflects the band members learning the forms of eastern European/Yiddish/Gypsy music, Balamouk represents a nice evolution from their earlier work. They have clearly explored, developed, and evolved more musical ideas building from the frame of traditional music from eastern Europe. Balamouk is a highly creative and emotive collection of songs from a group of talented musicians. They are even better live in concert. Les Yeux Noirs rock!

A "must have".......2003-07-08

I just saw Les Yeux Noirs live in Paris and it simply was one of the best concert I have ever gone to.
It is usually very hard to combine virtuosity and emotion but they definitely succeeded.
It was also the very first time I saw Catholic people singing in Yiddish.
Don't hesitate, you will love this record !!!

No fools here.......2002-10-31

A wonderful collection of sounds and melodies. A magical journey that should be shared by all with a "neshome" (soul). Nu, so what are you waiting for?

Falling in Love.......2002-09-27

It is playing right now in the background, while I am writing these words, as I have just returned from Les Yeux Noirs' concert. I want to cry, to shout, to scream, to dance, to die, to live - is it love? This music carries your soul down to the depth of your blood, and believe me, your blood would boil exstatically as soon as Eric Slabiak touches the tormented strings of his violin... Whoever and whatever you are at this very moment would not matter. Suddenly your knowledge of Roma, Yiddish or Russian manifests itself: you unsuspectedly speak in tongues, sing, and dance as if you had these skills all along.
Blessed is the one whose days start with the sounds of Les Yeux Noirs, and whose days end with their music. The heights of joy and grief are there. And the most sincere love of the band members to the old melodies is transfused into your veins. After all it is love..............

Average customer rating: Balamouk Album great, Les Yeux Noirs even better live a kaleidoscope of sound

Balamouk Les Yeux Noirs Manufacturer: EMI ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD France | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music World Dance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00004T41N Release Date: 2000-04-04

Tracks:

1. Balamouk
2. Tchaye
3. Yiddishe Mame
4. Cioara
5. Trionica
6. Rozinkhes
7. Vulpe
8. Guene Roma
9. Lluba
10. Joc De Loop
11. Lodz
12. Liebkeit (La Tendresse)
13. Bonus Track

Album Details

'the Black Eyes' Are a Dedicated Eight-piece World Music Ensemble Based in Paris. Their Repertoire Draws from a Variety of Sources, Including Music from Armenia, Hungary, Romania and Russia, as Well as featuring a Healthy Sprinkling of Yiddish Folk Influences.

Customer Reviews:

Balamouk Album great, Les Yeux Noirs even better live.......2005-09-03

Energy, virtuosity, variation. You just want to get up and dance when you hear this lot. And at Reading WOMAD this year (2005) thats exactly what everyone did!

a kaleidoscope of sound.......2001-08-08

I heard Les Yeux Noirs (The Black Eyes) at an international music festival in Louisiana and was absolutely blown away by the musicians and their music. Two violinist brothers have assembled the most awesome band that take traditional folk lyrics and melodies and infuse 21st century energy and passion into them. Their music is gypsy-Yiddish influenced and contains both lively dance music as well as melancholy songs and lullabyes. Balamouk is a fabulous CD. You don't have to understand the different languages in the songs to get caught up in the exhilaration and passion. It provides a wonderful variety of musical styles and influences - like a musical tasting party!

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