Borders are scars on the face of the planet4 Out Of 5 Stars
So says Eugene Hutz on his merry band of musical pranksters' lead-off track, "We Rise Again." Indeed. Some three years after "Transcontinental Hustle," Gogol Bordello commence upon their ongoing mission to shred musical boundaries with "Pura Vida Conspiracy." Human cyclone Hutz seemingly runs on an inexhaustible supply of musical fuel, dragging gypsy violins, Spanish horns, punk rock guitars, accordions and his expressive voice all over the musical map.
There's also a new-found punkish spikiness to some of the songs here. Granted, I don't think anyone would ever accuse Gogol Bordello of being sedate, but "We Rise Again" and "Dig Deep Enough" start off typically, then plunge headlong into blistering pogo-dance breaks. They take it even further on the hidden bonus track "Jealous Sister." At a Ramones-timed 2:27, Hutz speaks of an Argentinian girl before hitting rapid fire verses that would do The Descendents proud, adding a strummed guitar interlude and a heavy metal guitar solo towards the end. Again, all in under two and a half minutes. Which is all the odder because the song "Jealous Sister" is 'hidden' behind is a heartfelt Hutz with a solo six string stepping along in three quarter time.
I guess I should be careful in using the word 'typically' in the confines of a Gogol Bordello CD, because "Pura Vida Conspiracy" bounces the ball across so many time zones that songs as delightful as "Lost Innocent World" confound traditional pop structure all while making me wonder why radio utterly ignores them. Is it the violins, Hutz's heavily accented voice, or just plain old conspiracy? No matter. Gogol Bordello is not about to let anyone dictate what or where their music is heading. They are on, as the song goes, "My Gypsy Auto Pilot," and "Pura Vida Conspiracy" is the latest love letter sent from a musical world without borders.
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