Rough Guide to the Music of Russian Gypsies

With the exception of the excellent Russian Gypsy Soul double CD on Network a few years back, Russian Gypsy music has received next to no exposure compared to artists from Central Europe – despite the respect accorded to music of the Ruska Roma within Russia itself, long co-opted into popular mainstream styles like the shanson. Three elements make up the core of this selection by journalist Dan Rosenberg: virtuosic guitar playing, conservatory-honed violin skills, and full-throated vocal arrangements, with most of the recordings coming from a handful of family bands. There are liberal helpings of both the rootsy – the uptempo, sweet harmonies of Loyko’s ‘Sare Patrya’ will appeal to fans of Czech diva Vera Bila – and the kitsch, courtesy of Nikolai Erdenko and Igor Krykunov with their acoustic Soviet ‘restaurant music’. Amid the brazen heartstring twanging, the raw vocal duo LP Mikhay & T Mikhailova’s ‘Opa, Dad’ and M Buzilev’s smoke-ridden ‘Vanka’ leap out as welcome chunks of raw authenticity. The bonus double CD of the Kolpakov Duo – two outstanding seven string guitarists – is more consistent. Far too much reverb makes for a musical treacle effect that sticks to the ears, but underneath is plenty of agile playing and yearning, romantic singing.