Music for a zakuski gathering?

December 14, 2009 12:31 PM

I am hosting a zakuski gathering soon, and I need music! I already have much Slavic Soul Party and Gogol Bordello.

Lounge-y or somewhat mellower than Bordello would be ideal, but I am open to any suggestions. The final constraint is it should be available for purchase as a download. Or legitimately free!

posted by everichon to Media & Arts (14 answers total)

The Red Elvises.
posted by JoanArkham at 12:40 PM on December 14, 2009

I like Balkan Beat Box.
posted by halogen at 1:06 PM on December 14, 2009

later A Hawk and a Hacksaw
The Ukrainians, or The Wedding Present's Ukrainian John Peel Sessions.
posted by scruss at 1:27 PM on December 14, 2009

Devotchka? Particularly the earlier stuff.
posted by ga$money at 1:31 PM on December 14, 2009

Gulag Orkestar by Beirut might fit the bill.
posted by EvaDestruction at 1:50 PM on December 14, 2009

Fishtank Ensemble... their cover of Saraiman is wonderful, and Tchavo is great as well.

The Toids ... check out Groping & Hoping or Salat Rodena for a fair sample.

Farmers Market (Latest album is called Surfin' USSR, come on!)
posted by synaesthetichaze at 2:40 PM on December 14, 2009

How about Shantel/Bucovina Club?

There's got to be something by Goran Bregovic that'll fit your needs...
posted by bink at 2:42 PM on December 14, 2009

Secret
posted by ellenaim at 2:42 PM on December 14, 2009

Just a couple more suggestions... I'm less familiar with these two bands, but they have the same sort of balkan/romani/lautareasca flavor to the sound that it appears you're looking for:

Taraf de Haidouks
Pickpocket Ensemble

And just about anything on Robert Garfias' ethnomusicology page concerning the music of Eastern Europe or the Romani would fit, it seems.
posted by synaesthetichaze at 2:47 PM on December 14, 2009

Response by poster: Yay! Thank you all, there is a lot of good material here. Za vas!
posted by everichon at 3:04 PM on December 14, 2009

I would expect to hear some Vladimir Vysotsky and maybe Bulat Okudzhava. These are 'balladeers', or folk singers - so maybe a bit too mellow.
posted by kitcat at 4:08 PM on December 14, 2009

You can't go wrong with the Balkan Hotstep mega-mixes from Typsy Gypsy. The podcast is a good resource. Here's my favorite set (45 minutes of goodness).
posted by milquetoast at 8:19 PM on December 14, 2009

Seconding Farmers Market. Limpopo might also fit the bill.
posted by amestoy at 1:45 AM on December 15, 2009

I loved Zemfira back in 2000. Don't know if there's more recent stuff of hers.
posted by achmorrison at 11:26 AM on December 15, 2009