Search - Gogol Bordello :: Multi Kontra Culti vs. Irony

Versus Irony

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 06/14/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Balkan punk band Gogol Bordello made it big in the last year with their latest album, a movie cameo and lots of good press.



But like many bands who find success, Gogol Bordello actually have had a number of solid gypsy-punk albums before this. And "Multi Kontra Culti vs. Irony" is right up there among their best -- sprightly, energetic and raw. It's completely insane and quite entertaining.



It starts off with a stop-start accordion melody that bobs in and out, until it's joined by a grinding guitar and frontman Eugene Hutz. "I walked into the bar/a man came up to me and said/you know the older you will get/the more PERVERTED you will get!" he sings in his heavy accent. Sounds like he's relishing every moment of this.



It sets the tone for the entire album -- gypsy music with a punk flair (or vice versa). "Ocurrence on the Border [Hopping on a Pogo-Gypsy Stick]" is a whirlwind of fast electric guitar and accordion, while "Let's Get Radical" is a grimy, slow-burning rock song, light on the gypsy and heavy on the punk.



But quite a few songs are heavy on the traditional elements: "Through the Roof 'n' Underground" is a slower number with a catchy tune, and "Hats Off to Kolpakoff" sounds like a rogue fiddler playing a little ditty on the streets. And the exhilarating "Baro Faro" is probably the best on this album: a nine minute stretch of wild fiddling and clashing rock rhythms.



You definitely have to admit that Gogol Bordello doesn't sound like any other rock band. They don't even sound like other Eastern-European-influenced bands like Balkan Beat Box or Beirut. They sound, in short, like your basic Balkan folk band that was forcibly conquered by a hyperactive clown punk.



So don't be surprised by what you hear -- a colourful clash of rock and folk, with electric guitar and smashing percussion duking it out with fiddles and accordion. It's that way from beginning to end (except for a few interludes of folkier music). The actual melodies are often traditional-sounding, but played with jagged punk fervour and twisted edges.



Eugene Hutz has a way of letting rip at machine-gun speed, or drawling the songs out at length. It's a bit hard to tell what he's singing though; his accent is as thick as a marble floor. But if you can decipher the lyrics, you'll find that they are A) funny, B) weird, C) profane and D) insane. Don't bother finding out the words -- just listen to that raw, howling voice.



If you can remember the difficult title ("Multi Kontra Culti vs. Irony"), then check out one of Gogol Bordello's most cohesive, solid albums. Worth checking out for anyone who loves colourful, flavourful punk."

One of very few cd's i've bought in a long time

A. Dusha | 03/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After hearing them live in one of the clubs in Boston I loved this band especially for their energy. After the show I decided to buy the cd. The cd is far from displaying the energy I saw on stage, however i'd say it's one of my favorite cd's. The lyrics don't make much sense and the guy's accent is really heavy, however the music overall is great."