A Hawk and a Hacksaw, definitely a charming name, very suitable to the Balkan tradition/lifestyle. Neutral Milk Hotel’s percussionist Jeremy Barnes composes, plays the drums and accordions and this time he’s teamed up with violinist Heather Trost and the brass players of the famed Fanfare Ciocarlia (which we featured here before.) from Romania. A Mildly psychedelic version of traditional Balkan folk music, it’s inevitable to draw comparisons to Zach Condon’s Beirut, as they’re both foreigners interested in Balkan Music. But to cut it short, I’d say there’s enough soul in the Balkans for even more musicians!

This is not only traditional Balkan music though, there’s some incredibly beautiful contemporary compositions which I’m sure would have enough other influences to struck a chord with you even if you’re not into Balkan music. The songs are more on the funeral side, slow and melancholic, but I especially want to give you a sirba so you can balance it all up. I’m 100% sure that you’ll like it if you liked the Beirut album even one bit. This is a modern day album of a wanderer who lists Moondog at the top of his influence list and continues with Kocani Orkestar, Fanfare Savale and more. Lots of delicate memories and soul on this one.

On other note there’s a reissue of Beirut’s Gulag Orkestar out with bonus songs and one of them is the lovely “Carousels” with lots of — brass! . If you haven’t bought the album yet (which is a must), now is the time, and also catch Beirut and A Hawk and a Hacksaw together live, which has been reviewed by The Rock’n'Roll Star.

A hawk and a Hacksaw – Gadge Sirba
A hawk and a Hacksaw – In the River
Beirut – Carousels