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Shantel : Disko Partizani

Although not generally a fan of DJ'ing or Disco, Shantel's Disko Partizani makes me feel like I'm in some excellent nightclub in Turkey or Bucovina where Gypsies have taken over the sound system.

Shantel has been turning techno-weary nightclubs throughout Europe into a "vortex of pure euphoria, where people end up stage-diving, belly dancing, and generally going mad."

Disko Partizani was conceived while traveling and Shantel found inspiration for it in the most unlikely locations such as a railroad station in Romania, a highway stop in Greece and in the back seat of a Mercedes Benz belonging to a Macedonian Gypsy King.

The music is like a cross between Fanfare Ciorcarlia playing something mellow (if that's possible) and the old Greek vinyl I've got mixed with smooth electronic beats and had me dancing around the lounge room instead of doing the work I was meant to do!

There were lots of little snippets of tunes and songs I recognised and had me wondering what I'd hear next - for someone who's not into techno at all, this album certainly caught my attention.

For many years Shantel has been remixing first-class bands like Taraf de Haïducks and Koçani Orkestar and in Disko Partizani works alongside some of Europe's finest musicians including Marko Markovic (son of the well know Boban Markovic), Filip Simeonov (Taraf de Haïducks) and Yuriy Gurzhy (Russendisko). His love and appreciation of Balkan music shows with every track being a winner on this great album.

I'd highly recommend Shantel's Disko Partizani to anyone who loves Balkan music and wants something that's both listenable and danceable at the same time.

> Make sure you check out this album and the other great artists released by Essay Recordings and Crammed Discs.