Balkan Blues [Import]

Various Artists - Blues - Modern/Electric | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 16, 1999)
• Original Release Date: November 16, 1999
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Network Germany
• ASIN: B0000300KS
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #153,520 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Livezile Lui Ion

2. Sâmbra Oilor Din Maramures

3. Si Hora

4. De la Hulbesti (Si Voce)

5. Geamparallele Lui Haidim

6. Mikro Kopelidaki Mou

7. Afou 'Heis Allon Sti Kardia

8. Mana

9. Tesko Oro

10. Chelipe (Kolo)

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. I Agápi Traguidiéte Pánta

2. Emai Orfanós Apó Paidhí

3. Skaros

4. A Oilor

5. Inel, Inel, De Aur

6. Balada Haiduceasca

7. Cantec de Maja

8. Hora Be la Constanta

9. Usti, Usti, Babo, O Davulja Maren

10. Oh Ljubav, Ljubav

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an excellent introduction to Balkan Music, May 21, 2000

By 

John H. Uhlemann (St. Louis, Missouri USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Balkan Blues (Audio CD)

This 2-CD compendium is very well recorded and contains excellent performances by some very good and important folk musicians. The Romanian material is especially good, and Romanian material is difficult to find. This is not "world Music" (i.e. pop/soft rock in a language you don't know) ; this is the real thing, albeit in nice studio performances. One might quibble about some of the choices, e.g. Psarantonis is not the best way to get into music from Crete, but these musicians are all known in their respective countries and represent real traditions. Any anthology covering a country, let alone the Balkans as a whole in a 2-CD set, is a futile endeavor, but this is good music, and makes a great gift to any of your friends who don't have a pile of old LPs or CDs of this stuff. I give it 4 stars, taking off only one star for lack of depth. _John Uhlemann, KDHX, St. Louis

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling Musical Tour of the Balkans on 2 CDs, January 3, 2004

By 

Erika Borsos "pepper flower" (Gulf Coast of FL, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Balkan Blues (Audio CD)

This thrilling 2 CD set of Balkan music spans the entire region: Greece, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Macedonia and Roma. Network did a fine job of a difficult task, selecting thoroughly enjoyable music representative of the area. My favorites are Greek, Albanian, Macedonian, Serbian, and Roma (gypsy).

I love Niki Traka(female vocalist) on the rembetika song, "Heis Allon Sti Kardia". The "Cafe Aman" beat of Asia Minor (Turkey)always sends a chill down my spine. When Psarantonis from Crete plays the lyra, he creates a hypnotic trance that is enhanced by his heart-felt vocals. The Romanian selections are all very noteworthy - fantastic cimbalom improvisations, melismatic vocals, along with breath-taking violin ornamentation. The Roma musicians and vocalists are of the highest caliber, the brass band music of Kocani Orkestar and Ferus Mustafov are outstanding. There is a wide variety of Bulgarian styles - music with unusual dissonance and texture, intense rhythms, unique melodies, a female choir, and dance music in the rachenitsa (7/8) rhythm. Ensemble Tirana (Albania) presents a beautiful polyphonic example, with drone, unusual ornamentation through vocal dissonance - human voices that sound like an orchestra!

"Balkan Blues" is one of the best compilations of music from this region. Anyone wanting to experience a wide range of traditional music from the Balkans, played on authentic folk instruments, or modern versions of the older style, should buy this set of CDs. One feels the intense, raw energy of the region expressed through music and song. A magnificent musical tour!
Erika Borsos (erikab93)