A Hawk and a Hacksaw and the Hun Hangár Ensemble: A Hawk and a Hacksaw and the Hun Hangár Ensemble

A Hawk and a Hacksaw and the Hun Hangár Ensemble: A Hawk and a Hacksaw and the Hun Hangár Ensemble
Leaf: 6/5/2007

This album contains both an 8-song EP and a DVD. I downloaded it from Emusic, so I haven't seen the DVD, nor am I really interested in it. The EP, however, is superb. The music, as you can probably tell from the title, is a collaboration between A Hawk and a Hacksaw and a group of Hungarian musicians. The songs are a mixture of traditional Balkan folk songs and some original compositions. The Balkan sound has been coopted by a number of successful bands in recent years, and its great to finally see some authentically Hungarian musicians cross over into the American consciousness, even if it is riding on the coattails of an American band. If you have never been interested in Eastern European folk music before, don't let this description put you off. I think that this EP is incredibly appealing and capable of transcending cultural biases. Just give it some time and you won't be able to stop listening.