GORAN BREGOVIC - Alkohol (Mercury)

There's no letting up for the Serbo-Croat superstar as he gathers his Wedding and Funeral Band for a mighty blast of Romany polyphony.
Although Bregovic came to fame in world music circles many years ago with film scores such as the powerful soundtrack the Emir Kusturica movie 'Time of the Gypsies', it's only latterly that his name has truly broken through via his contribution to the Borat soundtrack and his ensemble's fine (if largely ignored in the UK) folky wig-out at Eurovision 2008.

Recorded live in and around the Serbian capital Belgrade, Alkohol is a raucous, light-hearted party album and tribute to the drinking exploits of Goran's father. And it promises to consolidate Brogovic's profile even further.
The controversy around the Kusturica soundtrack -- and much of Goran's approach to the appropriation and reworking of traditional Roma music -- is unlikely to go away anytime soon, but whether authentic and original or not it's difficult to resist the tough, rumpety-pumping horns, crackling snare drum and call and response between Goran and Alen Ademovic and their whooping, wailing female backing vocalists.

Streets are Drunk has the Borat feel, its inebriated catchiness marked by a wild trumpet that sways in and out of the rest of the brass over a bouncy bouncy fun fun fun tigger-rhythm. Great fun. Tis Agapis Sou To Risko will appeal to fans of Berlin brass-meisters 17 Hippies, a rollicking beer-hall sing-along the lurches in and out of about three disparate jaunty rhythms.

Paradehtika rattles along to a 12/8 signature, driven by female vocalists Ljudmila Ratkova and Daniela Ratkova manic chants, and Gas Gas Gas is another highlight, with chugging acoustic guitars and guest German producer/DJ Shantel's subtle programmed beat bringing a slightly less organic approach than the rest of the album.

Love him or hate him, Goran Bregovic does bring great appeal and popularisation to this funky, honking Balkan gyspy genre (Romania's Fanfare Ciocarlia or Kocani Orkestar from Macedonia might be the next stop for those new to this stuff) and so long as he makes it so irresistibly attractive (while acknowledging the source where applicable) what's not to like?

KAL - Radio Romanista (Asphalt Tango)

They call it Rock and Roma - a frenetic gypsy-rock that recreates the energy of Kal's popular live performances in their native Serbia.
The eponymous 2006 debut by the band was a sprawling, organic affair, recorded in band leader Dragan Ristic's home studio with a shifting array of guest artists and taking in elements from Balkan gypsy to German cabaret music. The turbo-charged follow-up is built from the same template of violins, wild swooning clarinet, brass and accordion, but the band is tighter - in numbers (although there are numerous guest vocalists), style and approach. Tough rock-star vocals and relentlessly rocking squared-off beats lend an urban, strident edge to what is a less subtle collection of songs, betraying the agit-prop influence of the Clash and the manic, uptempo side of Manu Chao. The French/Spanish troubadour's influence is all over the part-English I'm Gypsy, an in your face defiant fight for Roma recognition. Romozon rocks out too, as does the title track, which contains a vibrant klezmer thread throughout, and the hard-nosed rhythmic attack becomes almost oppressive on tracks such as Pour Enfants et Personnes Sensibles and Oh Ma Cherie. There are softer moments though - Laj Laj rides a nice bumping beat with mournful textures provided by tuba and violin; Madame Boucxereaux is a French cabaret style diversion; and Luna closes the album with raunchy female vocal, accordion and acoustic guitar.

Radio Romanista is tight, taut and hard-edged. It rocks more than its predecessor, and thus if it's to break the world music market outside Eastern Europe, it will probably be as a slightly folkier Gogol Bordello. If you like Manu when he's plugged in and revved up, and Gogol when they let their roots show, this could be for you.