Limonchiki was the first Amsterdam Klezmer Band album I purchased after seeing the reference in Joann Sfar's wonderful graphic novel Klezmer. I now own most of their discography (including some pretty weird collaborations!) but Limonchiki remains my favourite record of theirs.
Klezmer, like all traditional musics can be played analytically or it can be played with street smarts. The AKB is definitely in that second category and I think that's what I like. They have no excessive respect for the source material, they're always willing to experiment with jazz, and groove beats, but more importantly perhaps, they do it for fun. Now don't get me wrong, some of their music, like Klezmer in general, can exude absolute sadness, but it's the kind of sadness you get after a night of drinking Vodka and reminiscing. It's not calculated. And it's just a likely to be followed by a round of the deep laughter of friendship.
That's why I like the AKB, and that's why Limonchiki is at the pantheon of my favourite records. From the first track you're grabbed into a whirlwing of clarinet and horn-laden fun. Di Naie Chuppe is a slow minor tune with the four "horns" (clarinet, trumpet, trombone and sax) playing around the theme and around each other. It's like an introduction to the dancing material that will follow. It's just in the middle of joy and sadness like I said above. The second track, Nadja is definitely the fun one, with a really cool lopsided B section. The rest of the album alternates between these extremes of joy and melancholy, but it's always wonderfully musical and real.
A couple of tracks really stand out. The title trak Limonchiki is a whimsical song with Alec Kopyt's great vocals, reminiscent of his home town of Odessa. Der Mama ist Gegangen is a yiddish tune that starts with a drone and ends up in frenzy. And finally, the exhilarating A Chassid in Amsterdam which is a kind of klezmerish hip-hop with Job Chajes on vocals (in Dutch).
If you like any kind of ethnioc music, especially if you're after something that translates the atmosphere as opposed to literal renditions, then any AKB albums will bring you lots of joy, and Limonchiki (if you can find it) is a great place to start!
Comments