Avo Kanto

There's a very international line-up to this ‘orchestra,’ with membership hailing from geographically distant areas from Spain to Ukraine – all of whom have an enviable command of their instruments. A couple of the musicians do hail from the Balkans, that undefined space that generally starts just east of where you are standing, but most are from Latin nations, and the heat and light of the Mediterranean suffuse the committed performances here. There is virtuoso playing from the band, with accordionist Mattia Schirosa and violinist Oleksandr Sora doing outstanding work over a solid foundation from bass player Ivan Kovačević. The tense and emotionally charged vocals from Sandra Sangiao might be an acquired taste, but her technique cannot be faulted.

The repertoire on Avo Kanto is drawn from folk and popular music, with some interesting originals. ‘Betlem’ is a sweetly modal composition by guitarist Julien Chanal that is especially intriguing – and the band are at their best when improvising collectively. The more raucous dance pieces are less happy, and not done any favours by the almost aggressive clarity of the production, but the slower melodies, such as the gorgeous and entrancing ‘Livisiani Mou Perdika’, have real emotional power.