Shtetl Superstars

[coll]: Shtetl Superstars: Funky Jewish Sounds from Around the World (Trikont)
Reviewed by Sadie O., 12/6/06
Wild variety of music with Jewish traditional/folk music at its heart, but ranging from something fairly close to Klezmer to straight-up hip hop, Reggae and experimental. Moments of absolute brilliance, several of which won’t be new to those who follow the a-file, and the chances are good that you’ll love stuff that leaves me cold… Another thoughtfully assembled comp from the good folks at Trikont. Don’t forget to read the booklet…
No FCCs (although a very few bits might make some uneasy); I like 3-5 best.
1. 3:23 ***starts with several seconds of airport noises, midtempo Klezmer slowly fades in over female talking in German, with male dancehall/hip hop vocals in Yiddish? Eastern European language? Music ends early, then solo vocal noodling with train chugging.
2. 3:05 ** “comedy” interchange, then bouncy midtempo demented male nonsense vocals and polka. Yippee!
3. 3:43 **** a few seconds near silence at start, then hip hop from Jerusalem layered over Arab dance groove. Mash-up of lots of languages and styles.
4. 5:30 ****solo vocals “buh-buh-buh” intro, then midtempo snaky bounce – a favorite from their CD already in our collection.
5. 3:57 ****repetitive brass band intro, then downtempo Latin version of the one Jewish song all Americans know, with hilarious hip hop rap. I love these nuts!
6. 4:25 **sweet midtempo ska/reggae with ukelele & Yiddish lullaby.
7. 3:25 *midtempo roots rock reggae; deeply religious song in Hebrew.
8. 4:12 *chanting intro, then midtempo hip hop in English about Holocaust.
9. 4:35 ***downtempo Arab/Jewish line-dance with hints of reggae, Klezmer horns, odd vocals. Blurring lots of lines with nice sounds.
10. 4:16 **low-key intro, gradually turning into absolutely hyperspeed Greek-influnced Israeli bouzuki. False ending, then bits of guitar and tuba reassemble into the manic dance.
11. 2:01 ***uptempo Klezmer with electronica and fairly crazed mélange (goulash? Borscht?) of instruments and influences.
12. 4:25 ***random guitar sounds intro, then rock ‘n’ roll, heavily-accented English, very serious lyrics, lamentation for the lost day when Israelis and Palestinians could play together…
13. 2:55 ** uptempo Kibbutz punk dada. Starts and stops, but compelling and fun.
14. 1:42 ***wild uptempo surf/Klezmer romp through traditional tune.
15. 2:25 **midtempo folk with hand drums, violin and accordion – really funny lyrics, but the title is most of the chorus, so if “lucky goddam Jew” makes you feel awkward, be warned…
16. 4:24 **highly traditional Yiddish song with accordion backing.
17. 3:38 ** “Klezmer danse macabre” with accordion and lots of time changes, chorus and dark lead lyrics. Undefinable but cool.
18. 4:43 **dramatic instrumental flourishes and female vocals in English for more than a minute, then midtempo Klezmer with a Reggae beat.
19. 3:23 silence at start, then train rhythm builds slowly – some clarinet and piano, but mostly trance and the train tracks… Ends short, and leaves me feeling creepy.