Gogol Bordello: Pura Vida Conspiracy

Eight years ago Gogol Bordello were the toast of the town. Touted as worthy successors to The Pogues thanks to their fusion of folk sensibilities with a slightly ramshackle but suitably rocking delivery, Eugene Hutz and his band of merry men and women had critics, fans and famous folk such as Madonna falling over themselves to declare the likes of ‘Start Wearing Purple’ the freshest, coolest new sound.
Since then, the band – with roots in Ukraine, Russia, China, Ecuador and the States – have toured the globe looking just as at home at rock and metal festivals as they are at indie ones. It’s fair to say, however, that Gogol Bordello haven’t really capitalised on that early excitement.
Pura Vida Conspiracy is their sixth album and if you’ve heard the likes of Super Taranta! you’ll know exactly what to expect. Opening with the rousing call to arms ‘We Rise Again’ the record is a fun but often forgettable cocktail of stabbing strings, awesome accordion and Hutz’s trademark Ukrainian tones. Lyrically, Gogol Bordello are a bit more serious this time around and sound a little road-worn and weary from the constant globe-trotting – the likes of ‘My Gypsy Auto Pilot’ deals with Eugene’s sense of alienation – but the music is mostly defiant and upbeat.
Album highlight is the genre-straddling ‘Dig Deep Enough’ – which sounds like an offbeat Eurovision entry and manages to pack in punk rock, humppa, reggae and pop over the course of three and a half minutes – while ‘Malandrino’ is a future live favourite in the making. Ultimately, though, Pura Vida Conspiracy fails to consistently recapture past glories.

Key Track: 'Dig Deep Enough'