Gogol Bordello – Solidaritine

Gogol Bordello are a timeless and always relevant band who cross borders in both music and as far as the world is concerned, this latest out of five hundred albums (seems that way) that they have in their back catalogue is no different, as front man and main writer Eugnene Hutz says “This is music of survival and perseverance. That’s always been our main driving force”,  “We just want to give the world a timeless album with messages of human potential and power.”

Solidaritine comes at a time when the world and its many factions are either at odds or collaborating in strangely uncomfortable ways, a pandemic, a war that tears at the heart, and global crisis, now is a time that solidarity and coming together takes on a whole new urgency.  To this end Gogol Bordello have hit the metaphorical nail on the head with this new masterpiece of an album.

From covering Figazi’s ‘Blueprint’ with the line “I’m not playing with you” kinda takes on a whole new meaning in the context of today, what we defiantly need is a new blueprint on life!, to the wonderful reality checking that ‘Era Of The End Of Era’s’ which features HR from Bad Brains brings to the table, this is an album that strikes a pose when it comes to standing up to a car crash of a world we live in at the moment.

Its hard to imagine how this album, whether written before or during, cannot address or feel nothing other than a cry from the heart at what is going on in singer Eugene’s home land, to not attach his art or life to this at the moment would be an impossible thing to do, this album cannot be listened to without this in mind, nor should it be.  

‘Focus Coin’ is the lead song from the album, a song that is a telling story of how focus is one of the hardest things to fully achieve, yet this is a key factor in shaping all of our lives. This is one of the key moments in the album for myself at least, it throws out a line that when grasped by both hands, has you fully immersed in this album, songs that focus the mind on things that may not be affecting yourself personally, but how oppression needs to be stamped out in any way we can, ‘Forces Of Victory’ shows how a song can be so forceful in bringing people together, its not about the content so much, as the sentiment and the conviction. ‘Take Only What You Carry’ also hits home as to how the whims of a despot, the ravages of war, or the pure evil of terrorism, can effect lives with such magnitude, this song has a place in our world today that it should not have, but sadly it does. 

Gogol Bordello have hit new heights with this album, its eclectic throughout (not that they ever are not), it has so much more angst, yet still has compassion and love for a planet that is becoming bereft of this is far too many corners, musically its a masterclass in how to be relevant when using styles that are steeped in history, but filling the gaps with something fresh and vibrant. 

An album that transcends borders in more ways than you can possibly imagine!

Victory will be for those that never give in….

Solidaritine is out on 16th September via Cooking Vinyl, check out all your options HERE

Check out the bands website HERE and join the support for Ukraine by buying the compilation album Artdopomoga Ukraine HERE