Kottarashky And The Rain Dogs are a relatively new group, based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Kottarashky has been a solo DJ for quite some time. But since the success of his first DJ album, Opa Hey!, he needed a way to bring a live on-stage performance to his growing audience. The result of this effort was the creation of Kottarashky And The Rain Dogs. Finding the perfect balance between electronica and live instruments (sometimes even blurring the line) and providing a unique listening experience, they bring the sounds of the Bulgarian countryside into the hip urban dance environment of today. The album opens with the catchy Aman Aman, a track that blends a Reggae beat with Violin, Flute, and sporadic vocals. Clarinet picks up the memorable melody line, then spars with the Violin. Trombone and Trumpet are added to the mix, and the song continues to build right up to the final note. A great introduction to the world of Kottarashky for those new to this music. Doctore has a good groove happening, led by Guitar and Bass, Pancho Says has a fiery Balkan feel, with some bits of Vocal samples. Accordion and Clarinet take turns and keep things moving along. Next up is Begemot, featuring a guest Vocal by Tui Mamaki of New Zealand. The track is a funky-jazz piece, with a Clarinet/Bass duet meshed with some groovy sampling. Mamaki’s spoken vocal is reminiscent of 1950-era beatnik poetry readings, bringing a freshness to the performance- art idiom. This is my favorite track, with so much going on at such a high artistic level. The band literally pulls out all the stops here. Slavyanka slows the groove down a bit, throwing in sampled Flute, Harmonica, Violin, and tribal vocals. Trans 5 is another favorite. With a Reggae beat and African Percussion, there is a cool feeling here. Bass Clarinet improvisations waft over the the groove, keeping us guessing what will happen next. Ungroovie presents a mashup of groove, Jazz, spoken phrases, a funky Bass line, and Surf Guitar. Keyboard, Flute, and Clarinet sounds make for a great combination here. This track could just go on forever. Babo is pure Balkan soul music. Vocal, Flute, and Guitar trade off with electronic sampling to set the groove. With Put A Blessing On, Tui Mamaki is back with her soulful singing style, against a Blues groove. There is a jazzy Balkan Clarinet solo that provides a nice contrast to the vocal. On Blatoto the electronics take the lead in setting the groove.This is a high-energy track with so much going on to keep things lively. The Clarinet comes in with a Balkan solo that complements the electronic effects, including an emergency siren. Vlasti takes us back to the Jazz side, with Clarinet solo over Bass and Guitar, with sampled Vocal. I like this one a lot! Demoni brings us home to Bulgaria, with a local groove, Vocal sampling, an Accordion sound, and record scratching. A nice final touch to the album. Kottarashky And The Rain Dogs take us “Western” listeners on a journey to a place we have not been before, and really widen our musical horizon. DJ artists are all about the mix, and the mix here is spot on. Here, the Sampler is the lead instrument, and Kottarashky has done a masterful job of creating a band that can pull this off, without being distracting in any way. The blend of styles, instruments, and grooves is a breath of fresh air in the World Music scene. I’m so glad I took the plunge into this new sonic environment, and hope that the band enjoys continued success.