ARTIST: Robert Soko
TITLE: BalkanBeats Soundlab
LABEL: Piranha
Bosnian-born, Berlin-based Robert Soko is one of the lynchpins of the Balkan-beats movement, using gypsy and brass band music as the raw material for dance floor-oriented remixes. In addition to his busy club DJing schedule, Soko has curated a couple of BalkanBeats compilations. Now comes a disc of nothing but Soko remixes and originals. He takes on material from a wide variety of bands: American Balkan-brass combo Slavic Soul Party (track 2), Germany’s Berlinskibeat (4), Hungarian contemporary Roma ensemble Besh o droM (5), Serbia’s legendary Boban i Marko Markovic Orkestar (7), Los Colorados from the Ukraine (10, a hilarious version of Reel 2 Real’s “I Like To Move It”), and many more. Until folks like Soko and Shantel arrived, nobody realized that gypsy music and club beats were like chocolate and peanut butter – two great tastes that taste great together. Call it ironic or post-modern or hybridity or what you will. All I know is that you’ll have a big grin on your face while you’re shaking it on the dance floor. And that's what BalkanBeats are really about.
TOP TRACKS: 2 4 5 7 10
ALSO RECOMMENDED: 3 8 11 12 16
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