Gogol Bordello - Live From Axis Mundi

Author

Scott Aitken

Published

Wednesday 16th December

Formed in 1999 by a multi-ethnic group of musicians with a love of traditional Gypsy music mixed with the fiery energy of punk rock, Gogol Bordello have been come a long way from their early days in New York to receiving international acclaim as a band renowned for their theatrical, vigorous lives shows. Live From Axis Mundi is a testament to all the hard work they have put into their shows over the years and a real treat for die-hard fans featuring a CD compilation of live BBC sessions and bonus unreleased demos featuring some of their best hits as well as an accompanying DVD showcasing why this band need to be seen and not just heard.

The album kicks off with ‘Ultimate’, one of Gogol Bordello’s most memorable songs off of 2007’s Super Taranta! and packing a lot more of a punch than the studio version. Eugene Hütz’s gritty, booming vocals sound much more manic than their usual studio version on “Wonderlust King”. “Mishto” is taken from 2005’s Underdog World Strike and played pretty much note for note from the original with Sergey Ryabtsev’s manic violin swapping licks with Oren Kaplan’s impressive guitar work building at every chorus until settling into ‘Alcohol’ with Eugene Hutz switching from angry punk rocker to down and out blues wailer crying out his sorrow for a drink or two.

Next it’s my favourite, ‘American Wedding’, the most powerful song on the album and also the funniest with Hutz complaining about the absence of vodka and the three day bender at the ceremony with the whole band on backing vocals sounding as though they are surely seconds away from tearing up the BBC studio and reducing it to rubble. ‘You Gave Up’ is a new unreleased song with feedback-laden guitar and creepy fuzzed out violin that hopefully makes an appearance on an album soon. ‘Stivali E Colbacco’ is taken from the Super Taranta Sessions and sounds like a half finished ‘Wonderlust King’ with some added Tex-Mex guitar playing over a racing double-time drum beat.

The accompanying DVD features the band in their natural habitat; that is in front of a packed crowd of screaming, half crazed fans packed in like sardines watching the group take flight around the stage with enough ferocity and vigour you cannot help but watch in awe as the band take every song to a new level of unimaginable vivacity in front of their adoring fans. Highlights include ‘Think Locally, Fuck Globally’ with the full band on percussion in all their theatrical glory with over the top gypsy costumes and Hutz, the ever resourceful front man using only a bucket with a microphone for percussion while the band play on.

Live From Axis Mundi is a must have for fans of Gogol Bordello and anyone looking for something both completely entertaining and truly unique as well as quite possibly even a little bit crazy which I think is something we all need from time to time.