Balkans Without Borders

Amazon.com
In the 1990s Balkan music became an underpinning for everything from Downtown New York jazz to a variety of postrock flavors emerging from the West Coast and the twin cities of Minnesota. Here's an expert collection of both North American and European artists playing their Balkan cards. Judging by these selections, the Balkan appeal is rooted dually in the music's speed and instrumental varieties. Charming Hostess chime in with their Angelite-like voices as drums rumble; the Klezmatics, on the other hand, build on Loren Sklamberg's tremulous voice and a spare piano melody. Then there are the more traditional nods--Muzsikas playing "Máramarosi Táncock" and Grupi Albanët feasting on an Albanian love song that yearns and jolts at once. And it's worth noting that proceeds from this packed CD will benefit the vanguard Doctors Without Borders medical organization. --Andrew Bartlett

Tracks:

Dali Tzerni - Charming Hostess
Sjaj Mjesece (Shine Moon) - Zabe I Babe
Hosa Dyna - Brave Combo
Surfin' Albania - Immigrant Suns
Esma - Slobo Horo
Hajde Bukuri (Come, Beauty) - Grupi Albanet
Godecki Cacak - The Reptile Palace Orchesta
The Stars Are Shining (Radio Edit) - Szeki Kurva
Gankino Horo - Farmers Market
Geamparalele Tsambalul - Alexander Fedoriouk & Ensemble 'Harmonia'
Zurle - Balkan Tribes
An Undoing World - Klezmatics
Ti Se Meli (What Do You Care...) - Annabouboula
Maramarosi Tancok (Maramaros Dances) - Muzsikas
Halling From Macedonia - Garmarna
Tiring Night - Meira Asher & Kocani Orkestar
Kako Kolan Da Se Vijem (Like A Belt I'll Wind) - Zlatne Uste Balkan Brass Band
Izniknami Badem Drvo - Mike Watt & Masina
Rece Cica - Sviraj
Anapse To Tsigaro (Live) - Three Mustaphas Three
Shopetzki Kopanitsa - Boiled In Lead

Amazon.com

In the 1990s Balkan music became an underpinning for everything from Downtown New York jazz to a variety of postrock flavors emerging from the West Coast and the twin cities of Minnesota. Here's an expert collection of both North American and European artists playing their Balkan cards. Judging by these selections, the Balkan appeal is rooted dually in the music's speed and instrumental varieties. Charming Hostess chime in with their Angelite-like voices as drums rumble; the Klezmatics, on the other hand, build on Loren Sklamberg's tremulous voice and a spare piano melody. Then there are the more traditional nods--Muzsikas playing "Máramarosi Táncock" and Grupi Albanët feasting on an Albanian love song that yearns and jolts at once. And it's worth noting that proceeds from this packed CD will benefit the vanguard Doctors Without Borders medical organization. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful CD.......2004-01-16

I have to admit, this is one of my favorite Cd's, of all time. A concern for the conflict that occurred in the Balkans in the 1990's led me to this CD. It is interesting to have found out what kind of music could come from this area. What is great about this CD, is that it covers music that is not only from the Balkans, but other places, such as Greece, or Poland. The artists on the CD are also quite varied, from the Albanian group, "Grupo Albanet" to a song that also features the American musician Mike Watt, in collaboration.
If you listen to this CD, you will be exposed to many different kinds of music, from traditional Serbo-Croat ballads, to surfabilly guitar songs, to a traditional Greek song, to thrash guitar song, and even a techno-dance song that contains no words.
You will be exposed to many different languages, from Albanian to Macedonian. Basically, this is not only a CD, that is a tribute to the area of the Balkans, but also to other places such as Romania, and Bulgaria. You owe it to yourself to hear of the breadth that Eastern European, Meditteranean music and beyond, can sound like. It will certainly take you to new worlds.

Mixed Balkan bag for yuppies.......2002-08-09

More interesting than good.
Some good authentic tunes (16 for example - a soulful and tragic mini-opera), some thin ones (7),
some commercial bs (6,13), some modern re-interpretations of 2nd generation Balkan kids from the West.
One out of the blue Jewish ballad (!?) - sad and beautiful, but totally out of place.
Even a Polish song - they not Balkan, my doctors with no geography sense, but who cares, I guess.

Briefly, really a mixed bag, some interesting songs, some dull ones, might be ok if listened to while slightly intoxicated, or if MD.

First LISTEN to the samples before you buy the CD!.......2001-12-07

Even though no samples were available to listen to on the date that I bought this CD, I still decided to buy it because I like traditional Balkan music, I saw that all the profits will be donated to Doctors Without Borders, and I happened to find the previous reviews helpful.

I really love folk music of Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, etc...

I also listen to Ivo Papasov, Yuri Yunakov, Ferus Mustafov, etc...

However, you should be aware that, even though all the songs in this CD contain balkan music elements, their styles are far from traditional Balkan styles: You will find techno, thrash, house...

If you like not only Eastern European Music but also those styles, buy the CD. But if you expect to hear more traditional music try other CDs. For example: Ciganine by Sviraj, Balkanology by Ivo Papasov, Macedonian Wedding Soul Cooking by Ferus Mustafov, etc...

(...)

Astounding! Lively Music, Yet Very Accessible.......2000-07-26

I've bought 3 copies of this CD to give to friends. Itrepresents the best cross-section of today's Balkan (Eastern European)music, some of which comes from American bands such as the Klezmatics and the Zlatne Uste Brass Band from New York. Definitely recommended for any contemporary or folk collection. Sale of the CD goes to benefit Doctors Without Borders, a humanitarian effort to bring medical help to war-torn parts of the world...

An excellent sampler of Balkan music to modern beats.......2000-07-25

I bought this album on a whim, never hearing any of the artists previously. I was pleasently surprised. The album is a compilation of traditional Balkan music put to modern beats. My favorites are Immigrant Suns, Grupi Albanet, and Zurle. I highly recommend this CD.

World Music:

World Music

world music

World Music

A Rock 'N' Roll Night at the Royal Court Theatre [Live] [Import]

Schubert: Sons Piano D. 568/D. 845

Softly as a Summer Breeze [Extra tracks] [Import] [Limited Edition] [Original recording remastered]

Goodbye To Romance: Standards For A New Generation

The Browning Version [Soundtrack]

South American Holiday

Sonny Boy Williamson & the Yardbirds [Import] [Live] [Original recording remastered]

Shut Your Mouth 3 [Import] [CD-single]

Sweet Life [Import]

Stones, Time and Elements

Sonny Rollins 2 [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Stuff and Steff [Import]

Street Cinema

Out the Box

Lines in My Face