Drumovi

Zabe I Babe | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 8, 1999)
• Original Release Date: November 8, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bison Publishing
• ASIN: B000002XXO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #784,671 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Djurdjevdan

2. Bol

3. Sjaj mjesece

4. Esma cocek

5. zuta baba

6. dobro dosli

7. selo moje

8. bosiok

9. ganga

10. lazaricka

11. sevdalinka

12. kajda

13. ganga

14. sarena fuja

15. pcelice

16. lepo pevam

17. visoko drvo

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars West Meets East, January 24, 2004

By 

S. Rosan "maxodyne" (Santa Susana, Ca USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Drumovi (Audio CD)

I first heard Zabe I Babe on another CD, "Balkans Without Borders" (a good listen by itself!), which is a compilation CD of music from the greater Balkan area. Zabe's one selection on this album, "Sjaj Mjesece", fast became one of my favorites, and I was determined to get my hands on the source album. The song, a love song, which means "Shine Moon", is written in a minor key and is partly in a traditional 7/4 meter, but is interwoven with alternate meters as well. A punchy, yet sparse and stacatto electric bass introduces a rythymic counterpoint throughout the piece. There is a lot going on in Sjaj Mjesece.

Zabe I Babe call themselves a "Bosnian/American Folk-Pop" band. I don't know what to call them -- music like this is not so easily defined and pigeonholed. They are joined on this album by the Ansabl Teodosijevski (see ref. 1). Some of the selections on Drumovi are written in traditional Bosnian and Macedonian rythyms, performed on traditional and modern instruments. All selections are performed such that the cultural roots of the music are clearly evident, but the American folk music component is present as well. Combine this with the rich musical talents of the Ansambl, and you have one exceptional album which must be heard to be appreciated.

The only exception to this instumental richness is in a series of traditional and stark a capella songs, arranged by Zabe I Babe. There are songs for harvest, love, sadness, and fun. Many are full of the quarter-tones and dissonant harmonies to be found in the songs of many other Eastern European vocal selections.

It was difficult for me to locate and purchase this CD. Amazon could not provide me with one directly, referring me instead to one of the private sellers through the amazon.com website. Although I had to wait almost a year before getting any response, I am glad I waited and didn't give up. This album is among my favorite top 10% of my CD collection.

Reference:

Zabe I Babe: http://www.shrines.com/zabe/
Ansambl Teodosijevski: http://www.shrines.com/zabe/ansambl/
Other Balkan Music: http://balkanarama.com/bands.htm

5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling, compelling, unexpectedly catchy!, July 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Drumovi (Audio CD)

This CD truly is an exciting overview of current, hot music based in various styles of former Yugoslavia. The first several tunes are jazzy, danceable Rom (Gypsy) folk-pop, by the world's best-known/widely-toured/prolific/talented Roma band, Ansabl Teodosievski, from Skopje, Macedonia. These tracks are followed by some seriously non-Western a capella Bosnian mountain songs, in close (dis)harmony. The singers' voices are beautiful and the songs are fascinating and become vibrant and familiar, even if they sound quite foreign at first. The album is held together by a spirit of cross-pollination, joy, rhythm, and innovation. It is a great deal of high quality fun. Highly recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars A great variety of music from Bosnia and Macedonia., June 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Drumovi (Audio CD)

"An exciting Young Bosnian/American Folk-Pop Band Joins Forces with the World's Greatest Gypsy Ensemble. It's a Dance Party dosed with Hardcore Balkan Singing." "The music of war torn Bosnia is a polyglot, a place where rock, punk, folk and traditional mix with jazz and gypsy swing."