Russ Jones on Balkan Beats
July 4th, 2006 by rui
Time Out Magazine awarded it a 6/6 rating! The Big Chill’s Pete Lawrence heralds it as a ‘blistering’ record! And Londoners are stamping their feet in appreciation at nights all across town. What is it? The sound of Eastern Europe, a collaboration by Russ Jones (of global beats DJ duo Future World Funk) and Felix (Basement) Jaxx called ‘Gypsy Beats and Balkan Bangers’.
Infectiously addictive, with its big room orchestration, heel-clicking choruses, and original Balkan rhythms – think West Side Story, set in Prague, with Russian tsars on one side of a banqueting table, challenging opposing Bulgarian peasants with their feet, and you’ll come close to imagining the dance jumble that transpires.
While Russ Jones gears up for his festival compilation send off, with a set full of Polish punk, Bosnian rap, Russian ska, waltzes and instrumental high kicks, we suggest you start seriously thinking about your moves…
His CV makes a long and fascinating read: artistic director of Hoxton’s seminal Blue Note club, co-founder of Brazilian record label ‘Far Out Recordings’, remixer of Amadou and Mariam, Bollywood Brass Band and nu-gypsy act Mahala Rai Banda (hear the latter on the compilation) and, currently, producer of ‘World Carnival’ for digital broadcasters Music Choice. He’s also been a regular visitor to The Big Chill’s decks, since the 1994 Islington Union Chapel (where he was amused to find himself DJing to a seated audience – “music for dancefloor slouchers, I think headnodding was about as energetic as it got. Doing an extended set on your feet for several hours can be very tiring, more chairs please!”), since then appearing at The Big Chill Norfolk, Larmer Tree Gardens and Eastnor. His personal highlight?
“There have been many, since Larmer Tree Gardens ten years ago when it was super hot, the records were literally warping, but everyone got really into my set.”
With music being the healing force that it is, eastern Europeans have unified in a way never seen before, right on the dancefloors. The new, upbeat attitude has in turn attracted thousands of visitors to their shores. But if you have never heard let alone danced to a Balkan beat, let us hand you over to Russ Jones, to tempt you along for your Big Chill initiation:
“You have to see and hear this to believe it. It’s crazy party music, with a lot of brass and tuba sounds, but also quite melodic at times. When you see it performed live the kids just rock, big time. The music’s 150-years-old, a lot of bands who originally played this were in the military, that’s why there’s so much brass.
“I’ve always been into global dance music, always looking forward to the next new thing. I love seeing music evolve. I guess there’s a lot of punk in Balkan Beats, which I used to be into, I used to make my mum and dad take me down the King’s Road just to see the original punks hanging out there [in the late-70s to early-80s].
“It’s early days for the scene. Young kids are making more of this music so I’m being sent loads, and getting more and more into it. I like seeing how it works, seeing what reaction people have, how they dance to it (how? like to any other music, but pogoing works!)
“I’m excited about playing this music at Eastnor (and at my new night which starts at Cargo this Friday 7th July called Globo Loco). I think that the brilliance of the likes of Mahali Rai Banda, Goran Breckovic, Fanfare Ciocarlia and the Russian 15-piece full brass section punk Leningrad will only continue to spread the word.
“Balkan beats are the new…. brown, or is it black, or maybe it’s just some of the best, wildest, messiest, drunken, crazy OLD folk, accoustic, party music that’s tearing up any dancefloor, anywhere right now. STANDARD!”
So there you go. Grab a taster at www.myspace.com/russjones1
And be there… or… be western European square!
