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CD Review
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RootsWorld, CD Review >>
-by Tom Orr
The band's name is a catchy bit of alliterationthat doesn't tell the whole story. There areBalkan sounds here, primarily Gypsy and Jewishand the common ground they share, but a good dealof Mediterranean, North African, Middle Easternand Jamaican strains as well, all seamlesslyassembled in an endlessly grooving sonic assault.The album's pretty good despite the fact that theprogramming and sampling are relentless at times.That's because there are some well-displayedchops on real instruments (violin, accordion,percussion) in between sections where so manylayers of eclectic sounds fly at you it seemsthis group is trying to avoid categorization atall costs. Firmly contemporary, Balkan Beat Boxalso wisely remember what the musical culturetheir name bespeaks is all about. So they insertbrass and reeds aplenty amid the controlledanarchy, and tracks where the band doesn't feelcompelled to throw in gimmicks at every turn("BBBeat," "Gypsy Queens") are murderously good.Still even when they seem more concerned withelbowing you in the ribs than making cohesivemusic, Balkan Beat Box come across as a savvybunch of border busters who know how to mix,match, mash and modernize. 06/19/07 >> go there
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