Rough Guide Balkans

Various Artists
World Music Network
World | Apr 2003

Reviews

Fo
Reviewed 2003-08-24
[Coll.]: ROUGH GUIDE TO THE BALKANS
World Music Network, 2003

A good compilation of music – mostly folk or folk-based – from all over the Balkan region (Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia are all represented). There's a fair amount of gypsy music, as you might expect, with an emphasis on brass bands, but some modern surprises near the end.

All tracks are air-worthy. Fo's Picks: 1, 2, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15

01. great voice; ballad then gypsy-jazz
02. uptempo folk-rock; slashing rhythm
03. brass band w/a funky eastern beat
04. pleasant folk bounce, moaning vox
05. quick brass band; great snare drum
06. screaming vox; quick & twisty tune
07. brass band; doo-wop/disco rhythm
08. great cymbalom/violin bounce
09. slower: sad vox/clarinet/guitar/violin
10. saxophone: folk start, then long solo
11. nice fem duo, cool rhythmic support
12. Bulgarian fem chorus, love medley
13. bagpipe & synth; duo vox; circular
14. somewhat trippy modernized folk
15. beautiful polyphonic singing; short

[Fo] - 8/22/03

Recent airplay

Jarnana, Djeli Mara
Diaspora MixSep 01, 2011
Belmont
Rough GuidesNov 27, 2010
Jarnana
No Cover, No MinimumJan 02, 2009
Hora De La Bolintin
the jewish alternativeOct 07, 2003
Pet Je Kumi
At the Cafe BohemianSep 30, 2003

Charting

2003-08-25 — 2003-10-27 Reggae/World
Week EndingAirplays
Oct 12 1
Oct 5 1
Sep 28 1
Sep 21 2
Sep 7 3

Track listing

1. Djeli Mara
2. Pet Je Kumi
3. Asfalt Tango
4. U Lijepom Starom Gradu Viseu
5. Nesatova Sa-Sa
6. Chaje Shukarije
7. Disko - Dzummbus
8. Hora De La Bolintin
9. Karafili Edhe Zamaki
10. Belmont
11. Jarnana
12. A Pirin Medley
13. Taranjkanje
14. Trigona
15. Do Mare Ciften