CD Review: BalkanBeats From German/Bosnian Beatmaster Robert Soko

Various Artists

BalkanBeats: A Night In Berlin

Piranha

BalkanBeats' brainchild, Robert Soko, is the originator and ambassador of the best Balkan beats organized in Germany. Robert Soko includes tracks by some of the most popular groups of gypsy, Balkan, and Rom music today. Boban and Marko Markovic, Vrelo, Kal, Ahilea, Magnifico, Al Jawala, and other musicians are included on this release. Some of the tracks feature vocals in English, Turkish, Slovak, Romany, Lari, Hungarian, German, Czech, Russian, Serbian, and Slovak languages. This attests to the widespread Balkan diaspora. As an added bonus, the CD includes a full-artist information file and slideshow when placed in a CD-ROM. The pulsating, gyrating, and funky brass beats ignite a high-danceability index. Piranha has yet again produced another amazing Balkan beat album for all to enjoy. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Boban's 'Devla' Is Divine

Boban and Marko Markovic

Devla: Blown Away To Dancefloor Heaven

Piranha

Anyone that is looking for something a little different this year, then check out father-son duo, Boban and Marko Markovic. The Serbian brass beats create a style so unique, it could appropriately be called 'Balkan-Beat'. Imagine the 'Afro-Beat' funk rhythms in a Serbian context and you have the Markovic Orchestra. The speedy beats and funky brass inspire the feet to move into a state of ecstasy. The musical rhythms are accompanied by joyous shouts and lyrics in Serbian and English. Some of the singers include Sofi Marinova, Rade Krstic, and Ljubisa Stojanovic. The Balkan region has produced numerous albums in recent years, and Boban and Marko Markovic continue to prove their musical abilities with each release. Listeners with a knack for Balkan brass, Klezmer, gypsy pop, and Rom music will find Devla divine. In short, Devla is sure to energize anyone who listens to it. ~ Matthew Forss