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Managing to retain a live quality in the recordings, although less so than on their first album, Romski Robbery which is very raw indeed, Va Fan Fahre continue their musical development and really have come a long way in a couple of years as a group. It is a relief as a fan and listener of brass that in such cases the album has not been over-produced or polished up so perfectly that the music loses its soul.

Zet Je Maar opens with ‘Mashki’, a sort of marching band scat which could provide the mis-en-scène to a James Bond opening sequence with both vocals and boom of the tapan provided by drummer Dimitri Simoen. This is followed by a slow progressive ascent into brass ecstatic dizziness with ‘Tcha’s Mood’, featuring guest violinist, blind multi-instrumentalist Tcha Limberger.

And on the album goes, taking us through a sort of tango with ‘Te Quiero Tambien’, Qawwali with ‘Kajele Tikika Nakarame’ and so on. ‘Ethiopian Gipsy’ gives a nod to Mulatu Astatke and many of the arrangements are jazz inspired but not so much to put off someone, like myself who is not a huge jazz fan. The usual ‘orkestrar’ ensemble is complimented with harmonium (or helikon), cajon and tablas. The balance of a full smooth brass sound using variations of rhythm and instrumentation from around the world brought largely by guest musicians, makes this truly music without borders.

I imagine Va Fan Fahre are brilliant live and this is a fun album with something a little bit different to offer fans of Balkan brass.

Link: vafanfahre.zephyrusrecords.be