B EAST Magazine website

– post: Al Jackson

When was the last time you were set upon by beat-crazed gypsies intent on making you feel that the world isn’t shitty, that life isn’t one big fucking let-down, and actually get you smiling like a bloody idiot while jigging uncontrollably? For me it was about 4mins 54secs ago.

Many weird and wonderful things are stumbled upon when kerb-crawling the net but the video for I Was Drunk ft. Noze by tech-house sensation Riva Starr (real name Stefano Miele) certainly falls into the latter category. Well, maybe a little bit into the first one too but in a good way. It is total lunacy after all.

It’s a mash-up of Black Cat, White Cat, by controversial Serbian director Emir Kustarica and if you thought the film was an absurdist delight, just wait til you see it set to Miele’s infectious, hook-laden Balkan belter. Like the most joyously riotous, insane, crystal-meth induced shot-gun wedding homevideo ever. Watch it, watch it now.

Riva Starr’s album, If Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade is out on Made to Play in January 2010.

Balkanbeats are hot these days, what with Gogol Bordello, Balkan Beatbox, Goran Bregovic and others cashing in on the West’s desire to let loose, turn into wild gypsy brides and go beastly to pumped-up brass, Klezmer grooves, ethnic tunes, trash-pop, bagpipes and other synthesis of guitar-rock, dance and folksy instruments and attitude.

Few have captured the zeitgeist as well as Berlin’s Eastblok Record Label (www.eastblokmusic.com) who recently released BALKANBEATS3 has some great tracks including Goran Bregovic’s dancy Gas Gas and The No Smoking Orchestra’s soulful Dobrila, in addition to Slovansky Bal’s Moscow Fever. The selection is compiled by DJ Robert Soko.

B EAST brings you a selection right to your desktop. So jangle your beads and rock to The No Smoking Orchestra’s Dobrila.