Balkan Beat Box 'Nu Med' album

New York’s Balkan Beat Box tackled their latest album, Nu Med, with the fervor of a band intent on not only making a political statement, but getting fans on the dance-floor in the process. The album imagines what the Middle East would sound like if the borders of were abolished and Arabic, Gypsy, and Jewish musics were able to blend freely, which is exactly what happens on Nu Med. The album flows from electronic to reggae to hip hop to klezmer all in the span of 13 tracks.

Featured in SPIN Magazine’s “Gypsy Music – Scene of the Year” article as a band to watch in 2007, Balkan Beat Box have already earned quite the following with their high-energy live shows proven to turn non-believers into diehard fans. The group consists of a former member (Ori) and producer (Tamir) of gypsy-punk sensations Gogol Bordello, Big Lazy, and Firewater. "Guaranteed to propel any party into a hedonistic, sweaty mess, this cross-cultural crew of New York musicians cranks out Eastern Bloc-inspired techno grooves seemingly fueled by Manischewitz and a big dose of punk 'tude,” wrote Entertainment Weekly. Others have likened the band to M.I.A, Beirut, Ozomatli, and Devotchka for their unique take on world music which attracts fans of all stripes.

Balkan Beat Box have been on a worldwide touring spree with artists including Matisyahu, Antibalas, and Golem since their debut release in September 2005 and have played Bonnarroo, Central Park Summerstage, and Chicago’s Summerdance in the process.

Nu Med hits digital stores on May 1st and your local record shops on May 15th. iTunes users can grab a bonus version of the album starting with the April 17th pre-release.

Niography
With the revolutionary spirit and beats of M.I.A., and the ideals of John Lennon, Balkan Beat Box steps forward with a cohesive new album that imagines a Middle East without borders and a healthy dose of New York energy. Balkan Beat Box blends electronic music with hard-edged folk music from North Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Their 2005 eponymous debut on JDub Records was hailed by The Denver Post as “a sonic masterpiece” and has sold over 10,000 copies in the US. Having performed at Bonnaroo, Central Park Summerstage, Montreal JazzFest and having toured extensively with Matisyahu as well as on headlining international tours, Balkan Beat returns with Nu Med, a musical vision of what the Mediterranean would sound like if borders were removed.

BBB makes connections that politics often keep separate. Jewish, Gypsy, Arabic, and American are united by hip hop beats and dancehall toasts. BBB’s musical hitch-hiking continues as they mix things up with dub and electronics, juxtaposed with ancient Moroccan and Mediterranean melodies. The band’s uncategorizable sound gives equal weight to soulful acoustic timbres and digital rhythms creating a uniquely organic sound with electronic elements. Echoing his growing involvement in their live shows, MC Tomer Yosef is a dynamic presence on Nu Med, blazing his way through featured tracks “Digital Monkey,” “Mexico City,” & “Hermetico.”

PRESS QUOTES
“A combustible mix of big bright horns and high energy beats.” - The New York Times

“This is not your grandmother's klezmer; in fact, Jewish music never sounded so groundbreaking. This is the dance party of the new millennium." – Paste

"Guaranteed to propel any party into a hedonistic, sweaty mess, this cross-cultural crew of New York musicians cranks out Eastern Bloc-inspired techno grooves seemingly fueled by Manischewitz and a big dose of punk 'tude." – Entertainment Weekly

“A magnificent mash-up melding music from every conceivable corner of the globe and its history." – Chicago Sun Times

“Balkan Beat Box mix the sounds of their homelands with all manner of rebellious music – reggae, hip-hop, electronic.” – SPIN, January 2007 “Gypsy Rock: Scene of the Year”

Do you also would like to share your opinion? If so, please register or login here.

Details

Popular Songs

New Songs

Tracklisting

Balkan Beat Box - Nu Med