Urban Bratsch

One of the earliest French non-Gypsy groups to espouse Gypsy music, mainly of Eastern European origin, Bratsch have 40 years of career and numerous albums under their belts. The keys to this longevity include genuine instrumental expertise and the ability to come up with fresh angles, from the classic ploy of invited guest artistes to the concept album, of which this is a sort of example. The title might have suggested the poor old codgers were appropriating graffiti art and rappers in a desperate attempt at hipness. But that proves unfounded: it refers to a somewhat tenuous theme of cities (and suburbs actually) including London, Barcelona, Paris and beyond. Bratsch, as usual, steep their repertoire in Balkan, Neapolitan and French melody, new compositions and folk melodies. There are snatches of Brecht and Weill, all variously jaunty and heart-wrenching and accompanied by guitars, clarinets, violins, accordions, some good voices and little caprices of arrangement, such as a Philip Glass-like coda to one track. It’s very polished: Bratsch devotees won’t be disappointed; new converts may well be made.