Titi Robin - Kali Sultana

Rating:

* * * *

When you think gypsy music - well, when I do anyway - it conjures up images of wild drunken bands playing clarinets and violins to the masses. Like an out of control village fair. Well, French guitarist and bouzouki player Titi Robin brings some tranquility and stunning civility to the term gypsy music on expansive double album,

Kali Sultana

.

In

Quatrieme Mouvement

he fires up the gypsy mood with flute and a barrage of yelps, before a dark clattery percussive interlude gives way to forlorn strings as the drums contiune to echo in the distance.

Sultana la Kali

is a six-minute chant-driven beauty, with Robin's daughter Maria breaking from a taut vocal style into something more sweet over the course of its six minutes, and she features again on the romantic accordian and saxophone lead

Rumba Sultana

. Because it is separated into two parts, with seven movements and three interludes, there's a lot of listening, but just let Robin's potent playing and elaborate arrangements soak in over time.

Scott Kara