It’s amazing what a difference Borat makes. Despite soundtracks for great films like Emir Kusturica’s Time of The Gypsies and Underground, it was his outing on the soundtrack to Borat that has finally garnered Bregovic worldwide acclaim. You can hear what no doubt appealed to Sasha Baron Cohen and the like, he does this inebriated gypsy weave lie few others, the sharp stabs of the brass turning into an elongated textural wail that sounds wonderfully off kilter. His band is trumpets, sax, two baritones with throbbing bottom end, striped back percussion and strangely Bregovic himself on guitar and vocals, along with a few other male and female vocalists. Essay boss Shantel even pops up somewhere. The album which begins with the proud inebriated cry of ‘alcohol’ before launching into a frenzy of brass is dedicated to Bregovic’s father, a man who’s relationship with alcohol caused himself more than a fair share of difficulty. Bregovic, who has played with everyone from Iggy Pop to Cesara Evora has this unique way of integrating multiple influences into his music yet making it appear like they’ve belonged there all along. Imagine features these New Orleans style horns with hand percussion and metal castanets that would sound closer to home in Morocco than Sarajevo. Whilst Gas Gas Gas has a house bass drum line and rhythmic acoustic guitar. Yet once the vocals and horns kick in it couldn’t come from anywhere else but the Balkans. It’s his first solo album since beginning soundtrack work and whilst the arrangements are dynamic and adventurous the musicianship is so tight it’s downright scary.
Bob Baker Fish
