DARKO RUNDEK

and CARGO ORKESTAR

Ruke

Piranha 1894

Some of the best albums are made not by full-time musicians but multi-talented artists who see life as a craft shaped into numerous disciplines.  Actor/poet Darko Rundek is case in point.  The Zagreb-born former frontman of Yugo-punk outfit Haustor took out the ska while keeping the reggae, throwing in tidbits of Russia, Asia and France.  Ruke is as much concept as it is record, Rundek contriving stories of deep sea cargo ships carrying homeless musicians globally, picking up local musics and translating them in a Balkan context (Croatia sits between Hungary and Slovenia, the Heartland).  The musicianship is gorgeous, with four figures crafting violin, bandoneon, harmonium, zither, melodica, tarabuka, daff and djembe into a lounge-filled blues swing.  Another 10 guests add layer upon layer of downtempo, near-mournful jazz.  Front and center is Rundek and his despairingly cheerful vocals experimenting with Croatian, French, Spanish and English (as well as one made-up language).  His sound reminds one of Leonard Cohen, Serge Gainsbourg and Paolo Conte; a nonchalant, confident approach letting you know he doesn’t particularly care what you think because he knows he has something.  And on Ruke, Rundek certainly does: the opening “Ista Slika” (also appearing as bonus video), led by a hypnotic, minimalist bass line, is reason alone for purchase.  Throughout the next 12 tracks he makes not caring so much fun that you have to sing along (or pretend to).  Any fan of Frank Sinatra will blush over his brilliantly-contrived “Ti I Ja,” and the barnyard jamboree on Tigidigi Rege” makes backwoods bellowing seem all the craze.  On these types of ships, one never knows when to go overboard.  Rundek does, and you’ll be glad to jump in.  – Derek Beres