Jaro Milko and the Cubalkanics

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JARO MILKO & THE CUBALKANICS

Cigarros Explosivos!

Asphalt Tango Records 4614

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Let's see–a Czech expatriate living in Switzerland who plays grunge-laced surf guitar and fronts a band specializing in Balkan music by way of Cuba, Jamaica, Brazil, and Peru. It's a mashable world, baby. The opening track is called "Cumbia Griega," but though cumbia hails from Colombia, you can be forgiven if this tune makes you think Dick Dale was hijacked by a group of belly dancers. It's followed by "El Topo," with fuzzed-out guitar and rolling organ notes evocative of an electric Kool-aid acid test somewhere south of the border. Milko really has the surf music/reggae thing going on in "All the Past," serves up mariachi-influenced blaring brass in "Belly's Bounce," and turns to some tongue-in-cheek Django jazz in "Nah Nah Nah." If you're looking for the Cuban parts implied by the band name, you'll find it in the swaying chorus of "Miseria," but you'll also hear some dance hall and studio tricks thrown in to keep you slightly off stride. Once he's got you there, he knocks you completely off your pins on "Danza Mentirosa," which comes across as intergalactic experimental music. Even the cover art and album title signal that Jaro Milko is more interested in making a joyous, offbeat record than in pleasing purists. If there is a downside, it's that Milko sometimes goes too far. This is particularly the case with his growly vocals; he's either trying to lampoon Eugene Hutz of Gogol Bordello, or he simply can't sing a note. But we can overlook this on an album that covers more ground than National Geographic. 

Rob Weir