07/11/2009

Synopsis

Charlie revisits some of his favourite tracks that appeared since the Berlin Wall came down twenty years ago. Three of them come from former Yugoslavia: Darko Rundek is a veteran of the Croatian music and theatre scenes who achieved considerable success as a guitarist, theatre director and composer of incidental music as well as of scores for radio drama before emerging as a serious player in the world music arena in the 1990s. Brina Vogelnik is a young Slovenian vocalist while the unmistakable voice of Belgrade-born Ljiljana Buttler has earned her the title 'Gypsy Ella Fitzgerald'.

Singer, guitarist and film composer Goran Bregovic hardly needs an introduction: in this week’s programme he is partnered by Polish vocalist Kayah (pictured). Ersatz Musika, a band of ex-Soviet musicians based in Berlin, is distinguished by its own brand of somewhat lugubrious melancholy which harks back to traditional Russian ballads. Hungarian violinist from Serbia Felix Lajko is a living proof that musical, linguistic and national boundaries rarely coincide, be it in Europe or anywhere else.

Tracklist

1. Darko Rundek & Cargo Orkestar — Makedo

   Country: Croatia

   La Comedie des Sens, Piranha, CD-PIR1894

2. Kayah & Bregovi? — Spij Kochanie Spij

   Country: Poland & Bosina/Serbia

   Kayah y Bregovic, Zic Zac/BMG, 74321 724142

3. Brina Vogelnik Saje — Poljanska balada

   Country: Slovenia

   Pasja Legenda, DruGod, CD DRUGOD 005

4. Ljiljana Buttler — Od kako Sam Tudja Zena

   Country: Bosnia

   The Mother of Gypsy Soul, Snail, CC 50010

5. ErsatzMusika — Wild Grass

   Country: Russia/Germany

   Songs Unrecantable, Asphalt Tango, CD-ATR 2209

6. Lajkó Félix — Látvány (Spectacle)

   Country: Hungary

   Remény, A Productions, CDA 004

Broadcasts

1. Sat 7 Nov 2009
   23:32
   BBC World Service
2. Sun 8 Nov 2009
   14:32
   BBC World Service
3. Mon 9 Nov 2009
   03:32
   BBC World Service