Clejani Express ~ A Devla ~ CD

From Clejani (a Gipsy village in southern Romania), this ensemble (musical descendants of the well-known Taraf de Haidouks) became an overnight sensation in Bucharest, creating a uniquely "urban" sound and vibe that was totally fresh. What's cool about the group is that while the arrangements sometimes sound almost sequenced because of their complicated precision and contemporary grooves, everything is performed by real instruments, and never sounds cold or mechanical. So you have a large ensemble of virtuoso violins, brass and winds, accordion, cimbalon, percussion..., all rocking around singer Viorica's powerful vocals. Heady stuff.