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Written in Southern Rag (later renamed fRoots) issue 23, 1985


OSKORRI
Music Aus Dem Baskenland
Folk Freak FF 4000 4014 (1984)

In reviewing an album by, say, an English or French band, it wouldn't generally be regarded as necessary to refer to the history and politics of the nation. There are some countries, though, where music and politics are much more connected; countries where songs reflect national emotions and can actually affect them. The Basque country, currently a nation of mind, not administration, is one such.
      Oskorri is a Basque band. Most of the songs on this album have traditional melodies carrying non-traditional lyrics dealing with the Basque position. It could have been a hard record to review, since criticism of the music might be taken as judgement of the expressed sentiments. It comes as a relief for me that the album works fine purely as music. Since the songs are sung in Basque and the sleeve liner is written entirely in German, the meaning of the lyrics doesn't exactly force itself on the English speaking non-polyglot and what comes over is a set of good tunes, well-played.
      Only one of the group, José Ramón Fernández, plays typical Basque instruments - txistu, xirula and alboka. The other members use guitars, bass, violin and button-box, and session musicians add Navarran gaita, flute, sax, accordion and percussion. Arrangements are subtle and witty; singing is fine. This is intelligent music.
     

© 1984 Andrew Cronshaw
 

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