‘Tarkabarka’ new album by Balamuc in Peaceful Radio Show 1567
16 November 2023 Uncategorized
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TARKABARKA is a celebration of Romani songs, dialects and dances from one of London’s leading Eastern European musical groups, Balamuc. Bulgarian and Hungarian folk songs and dances also feature on TARKABARKA as well as choice film songs from The Balkans. Global in membership and traditional in musicianship, TARKABARKA translates from Hungarian as ‘Colourful’ and reflects Balamuc’s multicultural heritage from Hungary, Turkey, France, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Balamuc have built their repertoire on uplifting folk and dance songs from Eastern Europe and the Balkans on this TARKABARKA delivers beautifully. Yet Balamuc have also chosen to take a new direction on TARKABARKA which was conceived during lockdown and add a song of reflection on their new album, the popular 1930s song ‘Gloomy Sunday’. Penned by the Hungarian songwriter and pianist, Seress Rezső, the English version of ‘Gloomy Sunday’ was made famous by Billie Holiday.
Balamuc’s band leader, singer and violinist, Agnes Branner explores the diversity of Romani dialects on TARKABARKA. For example, on ‘Jarba and Rumama’, Agnes Branner sings in the ancient Romani dialect known as ‘beás’ (boyash). The Beás are a Romani ethnic group living mostly in Romania and Hungary and across many Balkan countries whose ancestors were forced to work in the Transylvanian mines of the Apuseni Mountains. ‘Jarba’ is about the travelling life of the gypsy while ‘Rumana’ is a party celebration. As Agnes Branner says of the new album,
“Romani songs express emotions that anyone can understand regardless of language. This was especially so in 2020 but in 2023, people for many reasons around the world can relate to feelings of missing loved ones and missing homes. The song selection is inspired by the celebration of life and love. They are often played at weddings and parties.”
Balamuc take their name from the song ‘Balamouk’ which features on TARKABARKA and translates from the Romanian as ‘The House of Insane’. The original melody of ‘Balamouk’ was written by the French band Les Yeux Noir and popular in many countries. Balamuc juxtaposed sounds of the Iranian daf, a 4-part harmony choir arrangement and a Hungarian tongue-twister singing lines with electronic psychedelic sounds.
Not only can Balamuc get a party started but they can keep it going with vigour, passion and great understanding of their musical craft. TARKABARKA follows on from their 2020 release YEDI KEDI (7 Cats) is being self-released on June 2nd with a launch concert in London’s Jamboree Venue.
Track Listing for TARKABARKA
Total playing time: 37:07
01. Duj Sandale (Two Sandals) 02:59
02. Dimineata (Morning) 05:20
03. Rachenitsa 03:41
04. Jarba – Rumama 06:40
05. Sofiysky Kjuchek 04:46
06. Tutti Frutti / Balamouk 06:10
07. Gloomy Sunday 05:43
08. Drumul Dracului (Devil’s Road) 02:23
Balamuc:
Agnes Branner(Hungary): lead singer, violin, accordion, handclaps
Alison Gleasure (Ireland), cello, singing
Jonathan Clayton (UK): double bass, synthetiser, organ, tambourine, handclaps, singing
Luke Tremlett (New Zealand): guitar, handclaps, singing
Marie Faucher (France): clarinet, singing
Paul Brett (UK): drums, tambourine, jaws harp, shekere, handclaps, singing
Semra Bulut (Turkey): darbouka, daf, backing vocals, tambourine, handclaps
Dimineata – first single of Balamuc’s sophomore album, Tarkabarka!:
Dimineata – first single of Balamuc’s sophomore album, Tarkabarka! – YouTube
Benno Veugen Balamuc, Peaceful Radio, Peaceful Radio Show, Tarkabarka