Genau!

The international debut from the Italian quartet claims to represent the ‘Power Gypsy Dance’ style. What exactly this is, Baro Drom’s publicists don’t bother to explain but they do note that the band ‘mix klezmer, Armenian and Balkan music and pizzica with an unconventional ensemble.’ Pizzica is an important musical style in the Puglia region of southern Italy (Baro are from Florence). But as for the other elements of their musical make up – well, nothing here strikes me as particularly reminiscent of klezmer, Armenian or Balkan music, although I’m sure there are melodies and the like incorporated.

Baro Drom (Romani for ‘Wide Road’) sound more like disciples of Philip Glass, playing intense, jagged, violin-led music. As with Glass’s sawing strings, I felt a headache coming on well before the album was through. They certainly are competent players but have yet to find an individual identity.