Brave Combo Polkas For A Gloomy World CD

Brave Combo: Carl Finch (guitar, keyboards, accordion, vocals); Jeffrey Barnes (clarinet, saxophone, synthesizer, harmonica, vocals); Danny O'Brien (trumpet, flugelhorn); Bubba Hernandez (bass, vocals); Joseph Cripps (drums, percussion, vocals); Alan Emert (drums).
Additional personnel: Janice Krieger (background vocals).
Recorded at Inside Track Studio, Denton, Texas.
POLKAS FOR A GLOOMY WORLD was nominated for a 1996 Grammy Award for Best Polka Album.
There are those who despise polka, and then there are those whose boundless passion for polka knows no limits, which is where Brave Combo come in. Challenging a gray and grouchy world to get knees-up for a while and chase the tuba player around the room, Brave Combo have turned out Polkas for a Gloomy World, a collection that finds the meeting place between Eastern Europe and the Tejano brand of accordion demolition music. It's a delightful mix of humor and seriousness, with some oddball ideas tossed in for good measure ("Near the Karpat Mountains" has this odd little bit of digital reversing in the mix, not to mention some very odd sounds indeed). The two visible originals, "Flying Saucer" and "Mystery Spot Polka," are worthy pieces, too, bent and demented speed-demons. If you're looking for a rainy day pick-me-up and don't feel like committing mass destruction when you hear polkas, grab this album and follow up by acquiring everything you can find by Brave Combo. ~ Steven McDonald
This is Brave Combo's second album with their expanded line-up (when drummer Mitch Marine left, the group replaced him, added a second percussionist, and a trumpet player). Like NO, NO, NO, CHA, CHA, CHA, this album's bracing mix of polkas, conjuntos, nortenas, and waltzes is engaging from beginning to end. There are just a few originals this time, but the material they find and arrange is dazzling--"Near The Karpat Mountain" even has wisps of psychedelia floating through it.
Jeffrey Barnes continues to shine as their not-so-secret weapon on saxophones, clarinet, harmonica, and even a few vocals. The two horn players add sweeping, festive color to the tunes. As for the gloomy world referred to in the title, the group seems to offer this music as an antidote or diversion. Another excellent album by Brave Combo, and a fine place to start in on their wonderful catalog.

Award Winner