Gulag Orkestar

"What's a twenty-year-old New Mexico kid know about pain and suffering? Plenty, by the sounds of Gulag Orkestar, the delightfully downtrodden debut from the Gypsy-savvy (but thoroughly American) Zach Condon".

"Højst original plade fra smågenial 20-årig amerikaner med passion for serbisk spillenmandsmusik.

"Condon and friends use the folk instruments primarily as really cool-sounding textures, exotic backdrops for Condon's melodic indie folk tunes and impressionistic lyrics ... Ignore the clunky lyrics - easy enough to do since Condon is an unexpectedly appealing singer with a rich, mellifluous voice that, no kidding, recalls the great bel canto crooners of the pre-rock era (along with a little Nick Cave) - and Gulag Orkestar is an infinitely more appealing album".

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"Time and again, the most powerful element of Gulag Orkestar, and what ought to be emphasized, is Condon's acrobatic, powerful, emotionally nuanced voice. It could carry any style of music ... the best songs here are a joy and the average and ho-hum tunes even have a thick and aesthetically appealing atmosphere-- in other words, it's an impressive and precocious debut".

"Det lyder som en purung, sørgmodigt smægtende Rufus Wainwright i spidsen for en bande vilde og melankolske sigøjnermusikere ... Meget ungt, meget afvæbnende og meget skønt".

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"En ung mand fra New Mexico blander musikalske inspirationer fra den gamle verden sammen til sød fremtidsmusik".

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