Radio Romanista – Kal – Asphalt Tango

by | May 21, 2009 | Pop/Rock/World CD Reviews | 0 comments

Radio Romanista – Kal – Asphalt Tango ATR 2009. 44:38 **** [Distr. by Harmonia mundi]:

This band from Serbia kicks up quite a ruckus in its Berlin recording studio. It’s the second CD from the seven-member band from Belgrade and instead of using the local all-gypsy musicians heard on their first CD the band now has players from several sources and has refined a style they call “Rock’n’Roma.”  The first of the 14 tracks even features a Serbian rapper named Marcello (I skipped that one).

Most of the tunes combine gypsy folk music roots with rock n’ roll punk energies for an in-your-face sort of sound that shows off the musicians’ expertise on the violin, tuba, accordion, clarinet, drums, bass, plus plenty of vocals. A couple of the songs are in French. While there are no actual translations, there are summaries of the sense of four of the tunes, including the CD’s title tune.  The latter goes “In my own imagination I have my own country – Romanistan – (with our) national radio station Radio Romanista…”  Fans of both standard gypsy music and gypsy jazz should love this album.

TrackList:  Kranokalipsa, Ding Deng Dong, Turkish Blues, Laj Laj, Pour Enfants et Personnes Sensibles, Romozom, Chiquita, Oh Ma Cherie, Madame Boucxereaux, Liza, I’m Gypsy, Pelo IV, Radio Romanista, Luna.

– John Henry

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