Let’s just put it straight out there. Icelandic Balkan music. And not surprisingly it’s like no Balkan music you have ever heard. Of course there’s those insane time signatures, the frenetic waltzes and jigs, the breakneck speed, celebratory horns, violins, yet also full kit percussion and these searing guitars and electronics driving everything into an enormous transcendent wall of sound with a noisy punk edge. At times it’s huge, like Godspeed meets Tony Gatlif, an aggressive euphoric 11 piece big band reinterpreting traditional Eastern European folk tunes with elements of their punk, rock and experimental former selves drifting up from their unconscious and starting to play out around the edges. Yet at other times it’s not, much gentler, restrained and composed with plenty of space even for silence. It’s definitely more guitar orientated than most Balkan music you’ll hear, even occasionally entering post rock territory. Yet it’s a fascinating hybrid of traditions, a little like Secret Chiefs 3 Balkan style, yet instead of one mad maestro this feels more democratic, like it’s more of a group effort, seeming to occasionally descend into a spot of group improvisation. It’s definitely a curiosity, not exactly the first genre of music you’d expect to hear on Fat Cat, yet thanks to the musicianship, inventiveness of the compositions and spirit of the ensemble it really feels like it’s offering a new perspective, perhaps a bit of roughage to some of the most joyful life affirming music you could ever hope to hear.
Bob Baker Fish
