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Balkan flop

(Friday 03 October 2008)
ALBUM: Max Pashm, Never Mind The Balkans: Here's Max Pashm
(Proper)

THERE'S Balkan music, there's klezmer and there's Gypsy. In fact - purists look away - the average listener might conclude that the differences between the three styles are wafer thin.

Max Pashm, following up his 1997 debut with this belated offering, describes his sound as "klezmerBalkanGreekGypsypunk with electro beats."

The album cover packs a punch, ripping off the Sex Pistols' Never Mind The Buzzcocks shamelessly. If only the musical content lived up to the bill.

The fusion of samples, electro and the freewheeling sounds of eastern European folk on intro track Imnul get things off to a promising start.

But first impressions can be deceiving. That's certainly true here. While the music bounces along pleasingly enough, it never really raises its game.

Best sampled live.

RICHARD BAGLEY