|
The Balkans groove? Yes, indeed. What started almost 20 years ago with the first releases of mostly Romanian gypsy ensembles, dug up and recorded by Western field researchers behind the just-fallen Iron Curtain, has now turned into a global club movement. Nevermind the disco trash productions of turbo folk and manele starlets in the Balkans, it was mostly Western producers and DJs who, fascinated by the raw energy of the Balkan rhythms and the sweet melancholy and wild passion of Slavic and gypsy melodies, made the whole thing compatible for the dancefloor. Well, those neck-breaking Balkan tunes had always been danceable, as one could witness at concerts of the leading Balkan brass bands. Now it is about putting these speedniks in fancy clubwear, dragging them out of the folklore corner to make it cool for the kids. Those Balkan beats get groovy. Eastern passion meets four-to-the-floor. Chilly dubstep cellars now shine with warm ornaments. Artists include: Kiril, Ras Tweed & Esma, Anima Sound System, Jutasi, Valentino Vallente Balkan Project, Goulasch Exotica, EtnoRom, Shazalakazoo, Leni Kravac, Watcha Clan, Fagget Fairys, Kottarashky, Dobranotch & DJ Click, Riva Starr, Nôze, [dunkelbunt] & Cloud Tissa, Imam Baildi, DJ Panko, Mere Mortals, Mara, La Caravane Electro, Balkantronika, and BASADUB.
|
|