Paul Roberts braves the Bulgarian snow to see a band with a difference ..... ❤
ORATNITZA
I was waste deep in snow when the 4x4 pulled up and I started to regret the decision to leave the farm on a freezing January night. After struggling on the ice and finally launching myself into the back seat, I try to ascertain who Chris has bought along with him. Eyes shine in the darkness as we slide through the ice and snow. |
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Fifty miles and two hours later, we arrive in Ruse, a town in North-East Bulgaria on the Danube, across which lies Romania. We grab a quick bite and a couple of vodkas, before heading to the venue to see Oratnitza, a folklore fusion combo apparently, according to Chris. I do not quite know what to expect.
The lights go up and I am confronted by a raft of instruments, a sudden surge of energy and a crowd erupting and seemingly knowing every word. And that is because they do. The traditional folk melodies are interwoven with orthodox chanting, hip hop, dubstep, D'n'B, and accompanied all the while by the haunting aboriginal themes courtesy of the didgeridoo. |
Oratnitza formed in 2008 in Greece. Three of the band answered a classified advertisement for incidental background sounds for a beach yoga teacher. By day they improvised soothing background riffs and at night they stayed up late drinking retsina and jamming. On Saturdays they started busking at the port and proved popular, so at the end of the summer they decided to get together back in Sofia. Three of the band became four and on the road they started to pick up local musicians who would play with them as they passed by. The hypnotic melodies of two such singers vibed so well that now they are six. |
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Tonight there is an honesty to their take on traditional Bulgarian folk. It is archaic, anarchic and often contradictory. The trombone like didgeridoo lends a otherworldly dimension to the backdrop of the feisty strings, home made percussion, wind instruments and enthusiastic vocals. There is a bit of punk in this band, a bit of a kick.
Folk music has had its ups and downs in Bulgaria. In Soviet times it was played constantly on the government radio and on the fall of communism the young people had no appetite for it. But there is a new generation of young people now and a kind of cultural revival. There are many aspects to folk, it sings across centuries and continents, a reminder of what we have been or might become.
I meet Hristiyan, the flute player and Tim, the long term producer, manager and techie in Sofia and tell them about the gig in Ruse. I ask then about their plans for this year. For the last few tours they have concentrated their efforts in the cities, but this year they intend to tour the back roads and smaller towns. As well as this they will be playing a couple of gigs in the UK.
Folk music has had its ups and downs in Bulgaria. In Soviet times it was played constantly on the government radio and on the fall of communism the young people had no appetite for it. But there is a new generation of young people now and a kind of cultural revival. There are many aspects to folk, it sings across centuries and continents, a reminder of what we have been or might become.
I meet Hristiyan, the flute player and Tim, the long term producer, manager and techie in Sofia and tell them about the gig in Ruse. I ask then about their plans for this year. For the last few tours they have concentrated their efforts in the cities, but this year they intend to tour the back roads and smaller towns. As well as this they will be playing a couple of gigs in the UK.
You can see them on April 14th at the Retro Bar in Manchester and on the 15th at the 100 Club in London.
Their latest album, Folktron is available here http://www.fusionembassy.com/product-category/oratnitza/ but you can listen to samples and buy above on itunes or Amazon (right) This is a band whose time has come. I can't get enough. Paul Roberts. |
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