Just when you think Norwegian band Farmers Market is just another bunch of hip Balkan brass-band wannabes, they hit you with a bone-crunching prog-rocker ("To Hell and Baku"), a sexy Henry Mancini martini (Gerry & the Pacemakers' "Ferry 'Cross the Mersey"), post-bop intensity ("Anyone Who Remembers Vladiwoodstock Wasn't There!"), or spine-tingling Middle Eastern etherealness ("Dissident Harmony Sisters Camel Call"), and other surprising genre-hops along the way. A great sense of humor shines through everything they do, and their technical prowess is impressive.
Arranger: Stian Carstensen.
Personnel: Nils-Olav Johansen (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, synthesizer); Stian Carstensen (vocals, guitar, electric guitar, steel guitar, baritone guitar, banjo, tamboura, violin, gaita, kaval, accordion, celesta, bongos, timpani, percussion, chimes); Finn Guttormsen (vocals, dobro, tambourine); Nadia Vladimirova, Julia Peneva, Arve Henriksen (vocals); Sidsel Walstad (harp); Ola Kvernberg (violin); Filip Simeonov (clarinet, trumpet); Trifon Trifonov (saxophone, alto saxophone); Jarle Vespestad (drums); Jai Shankar (tabla).
Recording information: Lydlab (2004-2007); Odd Arne's House (2004-2007); Ola's Mums House (2004-2007); Roedskulin, Nesset (2004-2007); Stian's House (2004-2007); Trifon's House And Car (2004-2007); Yri Studio (2004-2007).
The Wire (p.65) - "Besides the Balkan surf, there's Heavy Metal guitar riffing, bluegrass tootling and high speed Indian classical duelling..." Down Beat (p.74) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Drummer Jarle Vespestad and bassist Finn Guttormsen nail the tricky rhythms with a stunningly natural ease that swings..." Global Rhythm (Publication) (p.55) - "[T]he quintet has been woodshedding with the complex time signatures and melodies of Bulgaria since the early '90s, spiking them with everything from Indian ragas to heavy meta to '60s spy film chic..."
Surfin' Ussr, Pt. 2 (Top Marx from the Serf Board!)
3
Lodtschitze Mini Maritza
4
Anyone Who Remembers Vladiwoodstock Wasn't There
5
Dissident Harmony Sisters' Camel Call
6
To Hell and Baku
7
Traktor Tracks Across the Tundra
8
From Prussia with Love
9
Red Square Dance
10
Dismantling of the Soviet Onion Made Us Cry...
11
Kalashnikov Wedding
12
Steroid Train Trip
13
Meanwhile Back at the Agricultural Workers Collective
14
Ladyboy's Night at the Cultural Relativism Saloon
15
One Day, Son, All I Own Will Still Belong to the State
16
Yagoda
Surfin' Ussr Review
Surfin' Ussr Music Reviews
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