 
MAHALA RAI BANDA Hot on the heels of the top release of 2004, ELECTRIC GYPSYLAND, comes this fabulous CD by one of the groups on there: Mahala Rai Banda, from the gypsy ghetto of Bucharest. Aurel Ionita is the leader, singing and playing violin. There's clarinet, sax, two trumpets and tuba, accordion, a taraban (one of those hand-held drums made of ceramic), and drums (the bomp suggests a big bass strapped to the chest, armywise). In addition there's the wonderful spooky sound of the large cymbalum (a piano strained through a basketball hoop), electric and double bass, and a bass taraban (played by the group's producer Stephane Karo who has his magic fingers all over Taraf, Kocani Orkestar and a host of other great bands). Mahala (an indian word) means a place where gypsies live, Rai means noble in arabic, so you have the noble band of the ghetto or village. Some of the band members are related to the Taraf de Haidouks, arguably the best gypsy band in the world; another component of the group comes from the Moldavian army. They enlisted at 14 and being dark skinned were consigned to the army band. The nephews of Taraf's founder Neascu, who have lived in the outskirts of Bucharest since youth, avoiding the pitfalls of drugs and gangs, heard the ex-soldiers playing at a restaurant and teamed up to form Mahala Rai Banda. It's a perfect blend: the martial pomp and solidity of the brass section with the more emotional flights of gypsy melodies, accordion and singing. It's a breakneck album and very addicting: from the Clejani hammered strings of traditional gypsy tunes to wild swinging disco beat of "Lest sexy" there's a lot to engage you. If you loved ELECTRIC GYPSYLAND this is a less-mixed but equally engaging slice of modernized gypsy music. -- Doctor Rhythm
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