Nicola Gruev, a.k.a. Kottarashky, is a Balkan beat master. He made his mark by mixing European folk sounds with an eclectic selection of music from around the world. Nicola and his band, Kottarashky and the Rain Dogs, recently released their latest album entitled Demoni on Asphalt Tango. Kottarashky travels around the Balkans making field recordings or sampling sounds from vintage records. He is an architect by trade which gives some insight into the way he constructs his own music. This time around, he decided he needed live instruments to give the album a more organic sound. He drafted in some old friends and musicians from Sofia to round out the group. The result is an album full of analog and digital possibilities.
“Everything inspires me. There are no style constraints. What we’re trying to do is modern music: a bit romantic, a bit melancholic, powerful and rhythmic.” – Kottarashky
Jazz, tango, drum & bass, Balkan grooves and Mediterranean electronica fill Demoni with sonic wonder. Throw in some East Bloc or Deep South sounds and you have a taste of the ingenuity of Kottarashky and the Rain Dogs. You have to hear it to believe it. Better yet, you can hear and see it in the brilliant video for “Demoni,” put together by animator Theodore Ushev, below. The wild animation is a perfect match for the accordion driven tango sounds that dance off the record. Demoni is not to be missed, so pick it up today.
Great accordion feeling 🙂 Thank you!