Customer Reviews

Latcho Drom: Bande Originale Du Film

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"Latcho Drom" was a most unusual film: a combination road film/documentary/music video that chronicled the journey of the Rom (Gypsies) from Rajathstan, India, to Egypt, Turkey, Slovenia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany, France and Spain. The selections on the CD represent centuries of musical absorption from this melange of cultures. A fabulous collection of Rom music spanning different styles and genres, this is a CD to be treasured for its uniqueness, variety, spirit, and testament to the survival of the Rom. There is lively flamenco, French guitarists jamming as hard as Django, Arabic dance tunes, an Auschwitz lament, Indian music, and Romanian and Hungarian melodies tinged with the sadness of outcasts and the wearisome roads the Rom have travelled. Buy the soundtrack, but above all see the movie "Latcho Drom" for an experience unlike any other!

The film Latcho Drom is a unique product, which is more like a 2 hour long music video, showcasing gypsy music from all around the world. This is an amazing way of seeing the common treads that unite roma (or gypsy) culture in all parts of the world, but also how these people have adapted to their surrounding by adopting bits and pieces of local music traditions. For fans of "Deep Forest", one of the songs from the film, the one from Slovakia, was sampled for one of their pieces on "Boheme." This album has rapid beats and hell taping rythms, but also sad and melancholic songs and laments. A true pleasure to listen to. I just hope there would now be a Latcho Drom 2 to explore the other regions of the world where roma culture flourishes, but which were not included in the film.

Having seen the film twice, I looked forward to listening to the CD. Well, it's marvellous. A wonderful range, arising from the spread of the Rom (my ancestors) from northern India to western Europe. There are times when your foot won't stop tapping. But the most moving piece is the old woman singing the lament about Auschwitz. It brings tears to my eyes every time.

Watch the film, buy the CD. The soundtrack (and the film) is a journey through gypsy music as it travels through India, Turkey, Egypt, France, Slovakia and Spain. It shows how gypsy music and language has inspired and been influenced by the countries it has visited. If world music interests you, then this will be your cup of tea.

Dispersed for reasons unknown from their original homeland believed by many to be Rajasthan (India), traveling unparalleled roads to the newly adopted homelands of Egypt, Turkey, the Balkans, and Central Europe, i.e., Romania and Hungary, the Romani have maintained their unique identity, heritage and cultural roots through their music. This CD manages to capture the diversity and unity of gypsy life through a wide variety of instruments, musical styles, and expressions: depicting the versatility and talents of this often misunderstood group of people. Amazing how the basic rhythm and beat of life of the Romani (gypsies) can be so well represented on one CD! Erika Borsos (erikab93)

There are clear themes of love and pain in these songs. It should be hard to see gypsies as so many people do, when their music is so sincere and passionate.

Because in some ways the movie Latcho Drom is the ultimate road film (roaming the world with the Rom people), a CD of the music to take with you wherever you go is the perfect complement to the film experience.

The music is clearly all live performance, spontaneous, and linked closely to the action of the film. For example, there is a haunting piece apparently performed in Romania where the violinist creates a unique sound by pulling on an apparently broken string of his violin to produce a soft wail. Therefore, I would expect this CD to have its largest audience among those who are already fans of the film.

There is no need to see the film, however, to appreciate the pure sensory experience of the music, the joy and the sadness expressed in languages most of us do not know. For those who find the Gypsy Kings a little too pat, this collection is the ultimate antidote.

This CD is the exact soundtrack of the movie of the same name. The only difference is that the movie shows the dancing that goes with it. A great substitute for the movie for gipsy music lovers from all over the world.

If you loved the movie then you will love the CD. Earthy melodies that harken to a past life and connect you to the traditional musical expression from India and the 3rd world. Not everyone will resonate with this CD. If you like exotic music and the celebration of life through primitive music you will enjoy this.

Although I haven't seen the movie/video of Latcho Drom, the music on this CD is quite evocative, and takes you on the Gypsy/Romani journey, from their origins in India, right through to Romani music from Romania, Hungary, France and Spain (which is more like the sort of music I was expecting on this CD). I think you'd get more from this CD if you'd actually seen the movie.