Gogol Bordello - Trans-Continental Hustle

American Recordings/ Columbia

What an apt album title. This latest effort from gypsy-punks Gogol Bordello, Trans-Continental Hustle, takes us on a meandering trip through Eastern Europe and back — via South America too. With lead-man and dynamo-supreme Eugene Hutz now residing in Brazil, there’s a Latin undercurrent, like on the hip-swirling ‘Uma Menina Uma Cigana’, but their more traditional folk-waltz style is still here in full glory: ‘Break The Spell’ is resplendent in high jinx accordion and fiddle, without compromising any of the catchiness. If only more bands had such a finely unique sound, this transcontinental world would be a much better place.