The Toids
Unblocked Ears
© 2006 The Toids (804033101129)
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Balkan Indie New Music Textural Jazz Folk Songs
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For the last 10 years The Toids (San Francisco) have been working on creating a blend of the folk musics of Eastern Europe while maintaining a sensibility with roots in new music, jazz, songwriting, and improvisation. The result is a rich tapestry of idioms that while at times seem familiar, the end result is both hardhitting and heart touching. Presenting new music with a finger on the pulse of traditional Balkan folk music, the Toids give a performance both rousing and introspective, danceable and serene. Featuring Ryan Francesconi, Dan Cantrell, Tobias Roberson and Lila Sklar, their 2006 release, "Unblocked Ears" is now available on Odd Shaped Case.
reviews
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It's not all like Tsiftetelli.. Great vampire movie mood music.
author: Bela ZaphyreI DO love the tune Tsiftetelli from this CD. Musically this is a very well-made album. Both the musicians and the technicians were very professional and proficient. MUCH better than many albums I've heard from small independent labels. The percussion and violin/fiddle both were very impressive. However, as a fan of gypsy and belly-dance themed fusion featuring percussion and danceable beats, I don't really like any of the other tracks besides Tsiftetelli... If I were more into Balkan music with a vague polka-esque sound to some of the fast parts, I would like this CD a lot more. If you are buying this CD because of Tsiftetelli, DON'T! On the other hand, if you want a CD that mostly sounds like great background and mood music for a non-cheesy vampire or gypsy movie, you'll like this one.
Fab!
author: HollyLove it! Can't recommend it enough!
A treasure chest of 21st century balkan-rooted music. Benchmark!
author: RolandI agree with almost everything the other reviewers wrote. Unblocked Ears is unbelievable. If you like the samples, get it! You won't be disappointed.
Original, haunting composition of many styles and instruments.
author: Catherine CarrI agree with all the reviews about the band, music, feeling, pathos, and originality. I really enjoy this CD. It has a great flow consisting of new age gypsy, celtic and middle eastern influence and employs a variety of unusual musical instruments for a unique sound.
A first-class Balkan-American romp
author: Danny CarnahanThis is a beautifully-crafted, haunting and rocking Balkan-American romp from an amazingly young San Francisco band. The musicianship is spectacular, the band energy sizzles, and the original compositions, some in the oddest of time signatures, are simply lovely. "Magnolia" alone is worth the price of admission.
A successful blend of traditional Balkan with eclectic, modern influences
author: Larry Steen (of The Larry Steen World Jazz Ensemble)A successful blend of traditional Balkan music with eclectic, modern influences, this band maintains its authentic, folk roots unlike other world-fusion artists who excessively water down their original sources. Superb musicianship, compositions and arrangements.
- author: Tamara Turner, CD Baby
Fusing threads of funk, rock, jazz, Balkan, Middle Eastern and Indian traditional music, whether through sax, guitars or traditional instruments, Toids casts a smoky tapestry of mystery and haunting possibility. While their songs vary from playful and mischievous to dangerous and menacing, there is a strong persona pushing through each track, questioning and professing and relentlessly needling its voice through quilted textures of breadth and transparency. Taking the listener into the frail sanctuary of a human heart in one track to an international worldly celebration the next, Unblocked Ears is an aptly named disc, turning the key to the mind through clever, disarming and impossibly consistent talent.