Den Flygande Bokrullen / Tarrschwein

Back with a new release, time has not quieted nor calmed Sweden's Den Flygande Bokrullen. To the contrary, they remain a propulsive, brassy reminder of American Klezmer as it was recorded most loudly in the early 20th century. This isn't to say that they are stuck in the past - their rendition of the "Trisker Nign" will surely remind many ears of the Macarena (Matzorena?). At the same time, their "Freylekhe Mehkutonim" or their arrangement of the "Donner Bulgar" would be welcome at any celebration.

This is raw, noisy klezmer played by a band who would be at home in any village square, unamplified. There is no Yiddish theatre music or folk music here, just solid, thumping dance music, propelled by a solid thumping drum kit, good for klezmer, for polkas, good anywhere that a gaggle of loud, reasonably coherent kapelye would be welcome. These are the true children, not only of those old '78s by the Kandel Orchestra, but also of the madcap, fun-loving original Klezmer Revival band, the Klezmorim. Listen to the band's own "Farshtinkener Boris" with solos ranging from banjo to accordion to tuba. This is rollicking fun.

Reviewed by Ari Davidow 6/8/03

Songs

1. Meshuggah (Matti Pohjola) 2:29
2. Freylekhe Mekhutonim (trad., arr. DFB) 3:14
3. Trisker Nign (trad., arr. DFB) 3:01
4. Zefki (trad., arr. DFB) 3:48
5. Ziganoff (Matti Pohjola) 3:33
6. Schweir und Schwiger Tantz (trad., arr. DFB) 2:55
7. Farshtinkener Boris (Gustav Johansson) 2:26
8. Besaraber Khosidel (trad., arr. DFB) 2:52
9. Kleopatras Leda (Lars Ydgren) 4:33
10. Donner Bulgar (trad., arr. DFB) 2:46
11. Lajka (Matti Pohjola) 6:08
12. Evrejskij Tanets (trad., arr. DFB) 2:40
13. Karpat Jodel (Matti Pohjola) 2:16
14. Honga (trad., arr. DFB) 2:26

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