‘Katchyazafta’ is our latest adventure. The process began with the recording of some demos at Trinity Heights Studio (engineered by Fred Purser) and some more preproduction recordings with Andy Hardie at Ultrasound. This 8-track collection became a very limited edition pressing called ‘Multibubble’ and was never sold in the UK. It was used for promotion and was sold at a few performances in Europe.

We recorded the album tracks towards the end of 2005 at BaseHQ Studios in the heart of Newcastle. Engineers Mick Hedley and Rich McCoull worked long hours to ensure that the threads of this work pulled together seamlessly to form what is undoubtedly the bands greatest work to date. It’s eclectic content reflects the varied musical influences of the bandmenbers; from Balkan to punk, jazz to calypso and others besides.

We hope you will enjoy listening to this album as much as we enjoyed creating it – we made it for you after all! Please use our Guest Book to let us know what you think – we really appreciate the input.

The Baghdaddies.

SONGLINES REVIEW

Fourth full-length from the Geordie Gypsies

The riotous five-piece from Newcastle - firm favourites on the festival circuit - return with their fourth album of fun and frolics. The title is regional slang for 'See you later', and it's a collection of original songs and a couple of trad tunes sung in English and Welsh, ranging from pavement buskers' Gypsy-jazz to full throttle Balkan wedding-band frenzy.

There's an entertaining theatrical element of comedy and satire. Lyrics have a tongue-in-cheek humour as in 'Wonder Woman' ('you make me so domesticated, you just wash, I can dry'), and 'Not Drowning But Raving' ('forever bloody waiting for the rain to keep away... will we reach the stars or will we stay in bed?').

Influences are wide-ranging. While the Balkan brass is prevalent, there is also a fair share of klezmer, jazz, ska and punk - an anarchic fusion where Ivo Papasov meets The Clash meets The Beat. There are also shades of calypso as in 'Sweet Girl', tango ('Multibubble'), and the animated vocal style is sometimes reminiscent of Dr John.

The band have a particular flair for the Balkans and capture its frenetic energy and flamboyance wonderfully. 'Gream Parelli' is a highly playful trad Bulgarian tune and its rapid, winding melody is played here by the sax. 'Dongle' is typical of the Romanian doina, a freeform style also common in klezmer and Gypsy music. The Baghdaddies have given us another fresh and funky dose of their quirky concoction of party tomfoolery.

Tatiana Rucinska