Haunting vocals, wild rhythms, hypnotic melodic lines and a general fascinating bygone atmosphere, which blossom from the very first song of this great compilation. Here’s a comprehensive collection of 19 rare Pop songs by Roma Gypsy musicians, under Josip Broz Tito’s socialist regime of the 1960-1980 Yugoslavian republic.
Stand Up, People exists mainly thanks to efforts of London duo Vlax Records (Philip Knox and Nathaniel Morris), who have rescued the original 45rpms from provincial fleamarkets across the Balkans, or dug them out of the darkest corners of the vaults of the National Library in Belgrade. All the tracks were then restored to their former analogue glory at Carvery Cuts Studio, London.
Digging into the intimate atmosphere of this captivating music universe, one can stumble upon well known artists such as Esma Redzepvova, Usnija Redžepova and Saban Bajramovic, as well as strong rarities by Medo Cun, Bedrije Misin, Ava Selimi or Muharem Serbezovski. The compilation follows the wild courses of Serbia, Macedonia and Kosovo, coming up with nineteen tracks that highlight the thriving of Roma Gypsy culture in that period.
While you relax and start listening the compilation, you can discover the fact that there is a general influence from the Bollywood film music, Turkish psychedelia and British and American Pop-Rock, which can be felt throughout the material, pleasingly combining an adapted modernity with the old themes of love, loss, and life on the road.
Tracklist:
1. Muharem Serbezovski - Ramajana 4:292. Šaban Bajramović - Kada Zvona Zvone 3:18
3. Hajra Sucurija - Miro Ostišao as Zenom Kao Turist 2:58
4. Esma Redzepvova - Durdevan, Durdevan 2:51
5. Duet Durić-Runjaić - Amen Sama But Roma 2:14
6. Muharem Serbezovski - Ramu, Ramu 3:20
7. Usnija Redzepova - Selime Ternie 3:05
8. Šaban Bajramović - Dzemile 3:06
9. Esma Redzepova - Pesma Šeher Sarajevu 5:28
10. Bedrije Misin & Ansambl Braće Koko - Mo Vogi Dukalla 2:46
11. Trajko Ajdarević Tahir - Mangala 3:22
12. Nehat Gaši - Našti Tadav Ki Šutka Tedikav 2:36
13. Ava Selimi - Ah Bre Devla 3:11
14. Selime Bajrami - Gilava Amare Romenge 3:23
15. Esma Redzepova - Abre Babi Sokerdzan 3:42
16. Šaban Bajramović - Umirem, Umirem 2:42
17. Nehat Gaši - Alo Dive Me Romja Te Mukav 2:55
18. Ansambl Mede Cuna - Zanino Kolo 4:42
19. Ansambl Montenegro - Djelem, Djelem 2:39