Rating: NNN
The name most synonymous with Gypsy music these days, at least in pop culture, is Gogol Bordello. But he’s busy doing awful Madonna movies, so now maybe it’s time for Lubo Alexandrov to step into that spotlight.
With his double-neck guitar, he kind of looks like the Jimmy Page of Gypsy rock, even though he and his backing group, Kaba Horo, keep it pretty traditional and jazzy on Contraband, the follow-up to last year’s Juno-winning self-titled joint.
Recorded in his native Bulgaria and -current residence, Montreal, Contraband oscillates between sit-down jazz club tunes like Kaba AM and traditional accordion-heavy Gypsy dance shakers (Kaba PM).
Abre, perhaps the record’s most interesting track, which features Vassil -Markov’s vocals, sounds like a Balkan version of the Talking Heads.
Lubo & Kaba Horo pull into the Lula Lounge November 27.
