My today's selection has no concept, I just chose three songs from iPhone playlist in random mode; it turned out all of them have a serious flavor of Balkan bits. Accident? not at all! cause, you know, similar tracks make a significant part of my playlist.
The Unsettlers - Disco Junkie
An interesting band from Montreal, Canada (Canada indie music scene is stunning, isnt it?!); this is exactly the case when the band became "widely known / acclaimed in a local community" - cant say was it for better or worse... They self-released two great albums (no label was involved, thus there was no big promotion), and ended their career after a couple of hundred gigs without earning popularity at a global scale. But for a connoisseur their music is a gem. I would be happy to spend a hundred nights at their shows at a small clubs, but unfortunately, this is absolutely impossible, pure fantasy. Still, every time my iPhone magician pulls their track out of the cylinder, the massive vibe makes my legs dance.
This is how they describe themselves (taken from the band's official website):
An eleven-piece band of time-traveling troubadours, The Unsettlers specialize in dark polkas, menacing waltzes, horse-drawn lullabies and funeral dirges for the living - all filtered through the creaking floorboards of a whiskey-soaked saloon. Based in Montreal, the lineup features a contortionist, multiple vocalists, clarinet, accordion, violin, horns, guitar, piano, bass, and trashcan drums. Sounding peculiarly familiar, darkly celebratory, and maniacally assured, The Unsettlers have gathered a devoted following with their haunting, windswept vocal harmonies and pulsing, danceable blend of Klezmer, Beat poetry, and big-top dixie.
Fanfare Ciocărlia - Rumba tziganeasca
One more noteworthy band from the 2000s, a twelve-piece brass band from Moldavia/Romania. The band plays predominantly traditional Balkan and Gypsy music, which fast, energetic, driving tracks with complex rhythms captivate your attention from the first second and make Fanfare Ciocărlia one of the best, if not number one, Gypsy band in Europe. The band is still touring, if you happen to see them playing around, don't miss out!
This certain track is not their 'best of the best', I selected it due to the playback on this day. The only word to describe it I have is: bittersweet!
No Smoking Orchestra - Unza Unza Time
All of you (well, I hope so!) have seen 'Arizona Dream' film with great Johnny Depp and Faye Dunaway, where the music provided maybe 1/2 of the success, but very few remember the name behind the soundtrack: Emir Kusturica. He is a famous Serbian film-maker and musician (his band is called 'No smoking orchestra') and today I invite you to take a closer look at his work: clever lyrics, multi-layered music, complicated arrangements, and not the least - specific sense of humor. I have many favorite tracks among his discography to share in the future.
'Umza-Umza Time' is a great album from 2000, one from my personal top-100. Highly recommended!
The post goes for Three Tune Tuesday challenge run by @ablaze. Previous issues: 106 | 107 | 108 | 109 | 110 | 111 | 112 | 113
