Nomadic Orchestra
By: Madrѐ Swart
Hello? Hello? Can you hear me, Mr Fuzzyman? Oh yes… Oh yes, I feel da bounce… Oh I can feel da bounce. All ladies and gentleman, we are here bringing for you de Nomadic Orchestra, bringing all da bouncy bouncy bouncy bouncy bouncy bouncy bouncy… Oy everybody feel dat brass!
Introduced by Mr Cat & the Jackal’s Gertjie Beselsen in a thick accent, Nomadic Orchestra dives into a contagious, up-beat rhythm in this ‘fish-and-music monger’ song ‘The Fish’. Beselsen guarantees that ‘they’re gonna make you move your body’ and no doubt about it: even the most finicky will find themselves swaying to the beat. And that is this instrumental band’s main goal: to get the crowd moving.
It’s impossible to resist the tuba-driven beat. Each song is original and is inspired by traditional south-eastern European (Balkan) music from countries like Serbia, Macedonia and Romania. Toss in a little Klezmer infused with circus and gypsy music and the result is a beat that takes hold and leaves you dizzy long after the last note is played. “We start with the OOMPA OOMPA on the tuba then add a little CHUPS CHUPS on guitar, throw in some solid BONTS BONTS, BOTS AND CATS beats and once we have all that working great, we hit you with the TOODLE DOO TOODLE DOO of the saxophones. All you have to do is shout ‘BOOYA!’ and enjoy the party!” reads Nomad’s Facebook page.
Based in the Mother City, their journey started in April 2009 at the Balkanology: The Resurrection. Their Balkan Fusion has taken the local music scene by storm, landing them gigs with artists such as Mr Cat & the Jackal, Toby2Shoes, Goldfish and Al Bairre… and earning them opening acts for international Balkan bands such as Boom Pam, Shazalakazoo and Balkan Beat Box. They also performed at music festivals like Rocking the Daisies (twice), Earthdance, Splashy Fen and Flamjangled. The next step is taking it international – they’re trying to sign an overseas label to get Europe and Australia grooving.
Their debut album Move Your Things consisted purely of instrumentals: sax, tuba, trumpet, guitar and drums. Still, it’s more than enough to get you jumping and clapping. But it’s not only the sound that drives you, it’s the energy the band members bring to the stage - hopping from one leg to the other, doing a little jig and grinning from ear to ear. It creates a joyful atmosphere where laughter is as loud as the music, strangers cheers to good fortune and people dance without fear of looking ridiculous.
All of Nomadic’s songs are available on Soundcloud to brighten up your day and upcoming events are posted on their Facebook page, so keep your ear to the ground and be first in line to see this bracing, brisk Balkan band.
They’re not too much, they’re just enough... If you’re not sweaty by now you haven’t been bouncy...
