Gogol Bordello: Gypsy Punks

This week's Village Voice includes a set of CD reviews focusing on 'European multiculturalism' that includes a number of Slavic faves.

Top of the list is Gogol Bordello's new CD, Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike. The list also includes The Rough Guide to the Music of the Balkan Gypsies, Besh o Drom, and, towards the bottom, Gogol Bordello shows up again with the EP East Infection. The Mehanata: New York Gypsymania (also including tracks by Gogol Bordello) squeeks its way onto the list as well.

Eugene Hutz, frontman of Gogol Bordello, boasts an ethnic background including Hutsul, Gypsy and Russian blood. The band performs what it calls "punk cabaret" music, influenced by Hutsul, Ukrainian, Romanian and Gypsy music. The band has recorded three CDs, Voi-La Intruder (1999), Multi Kontra Culti vs. Irony (2002) and the latest, Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike (2005). Hutz is well known to New Yorkers from his stints as house DJ at the Bulgarian bar Mehanata, in Chinatown.

Previously in the Village Voice: Gogol a Go-Go

Gogol Bordello plays 'AmsterJam' at the Randall's Island Golf Center on Saturday. Rubric Records is also running a special: order the entire Gogol Bordello catalogue (all three CDs plus the East Infection EP and the When the Trickster Starts a-Pokin CD single) for $29.99!