The obscure stuff you find in local record shops are the reason why I enjoy them so much. Stuff like this especially. The weird, slightly musky smell that emanates from the packaging, the pasted-on album cover with a ripped corner, the xeroxed pieces of paper that contain lyrics and dance rhythms. Of course, not all finds are like this, and that's for the better: because if every cheap and obscure record was like this one, I wouldn't go about the endeavor. What makes this interesting to me is the fact that it looks like some kind of Ethno Psych Folk gem from the 70s, it even has mushrooms on the cover! The name, too, gives an aura of mystery. Then you listen to it, and find that it wasn't a Balkan influenced Simon Finn / Comus tour de force, instead you hear the sweet sounds of straight folkdances. Then you realize you just payed 250 buckaroos for it on Ebay because the guy put "Psych" in the title (which is an actual auction, buy it while you can). From ragtime to klezmer, this is still an interesting thing to behold. For me, anyway, I actually do like myself some Balkan folk music. It's not exactly something I'd listen to every other day, but it's interesting and I respect it. That goes for the other genres represented here, too.
The back, also pasted on, tells you pretty much everything you needed to know about this curiosity. I believe this was sold as a way for this group to raise money to purchase instruments and cover pressing fees, and the music itself in this so-called "Folkdance Underground Series" is copyright-free.
This album is not without gems of its own, however. Tracks such as
Le'or Chi yu Chech and
Ma Navu are both very nice and at times very pretty, and
Salty Dog Rag in addition to
Nina Nai Nai are just fun things to listen to.
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