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Written in fRoots issue 273, 2006
 

XARNEGE
Musica De Contrabanda
Pyrene PYR-001-KD (2004)

Up to and beyond Roman times Gascony, or Vasconia, was populated by Basques, Vascones. Today there’s still a good deal of shared culture between it and the neighbouring Basque country, particularly in the borderland “sharnègo” villages from which Xarnege takes its name.
      The band comprises three Gascon traditional singer-instrumentalists of the Baudoin family – father and instrument-maker Joan, son Roman and nephew Matèu – with Josean Martin Zarko and Juan Ezeiza, who were members of the Basque band Ganbara and others. Their instrumentation is mainly traditional, from both sides of the border, including hurdy-gurdy, the high-pitched Gascon three-hole whistle flabuta and its Basque equivalent xirula, the string-drum ttun-ttun, Gascon boha (bagpipe), and Basque alboka and shawm txanbela, plus fiddle, bouzouki, guitar and occasional quirky electronic processing.
      The material, which in some places might suggest comparisons in its dance rhythms and fairly non-chordal linearity with Playford tunes, comes from both traditions, often flowing from one into the other in the course of a track. The result, while not fully-formed in this first release, is a worthwhile meeting, and the bolder contrasts and odder electronic touches here hint at the direction it might be heading.
      www.xarnege.com



© 2006 Andrew Cronshaw
 

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