WOMAD

Shantel & Bucovina Club Orkestar

From Germany

Conundrum time. Why is it that the world's stonkingly huge appetite for the wild and heady music of Eastern Europe was largely sharpened by one man from Germany? His name is Shantel and - through his remixes of the likes of Taraf De Haidouks and his stewardship of the much-loved Bucovina club nights - he almost singlehandedly tore the music of the Balkans from the hands of the ethnomusicologist and into the ears of Europe's clubbing massive. Shantel simply recognised just what a euphoric and universal sound these wild gypsies were making and a little electronic manipulation could enhance it further. Having put together two Bucovina Club compilations and contributed to the house-shaking Electric Gypsyland remix series, he then stepped out from behind the decks to front his eight-piece Bucovina Club Orkestar. Their album, Disko Partizani!, is a record of unadulterated pleasure that combines the Balkan sound with the music of Greece and Turkey. While the more purist quarters choose to cock a snoop at Shantel's work, he remains philosophical about any negative comments heading in his direction. "It's only music, you know. It's to make people happy, not fight against each other."

Biog by Nige Tassell