MIKELANGELO & THE BLACK SEA GENTLEMEN – DEAD MEN TELL A THOUSAND TALES

To live we must die. Many a culture far older and wiser than our own tell tales that rejoice in the part that death plays in celebrating and enjoying life. Mikelangelo and his Black Sea Gentlemen know this, they revel in it. Dead Men Tell a Thousand Tales – most of them well worth listening to – throws back to an era of dark cabaret, twisted tales, and smoke-filled cavernous venues. Hark the Moricone inspired Ten Long Years in the Saddle (Waiting for Death to Come) – and we have all been there – take up an invite to The Devil’s Wedding – what do you bring as a gift for the devils who has all of eternity? Or perhaps you are understanding that It’s a Struggle to be Human some days. There are not enough Balkan folk bands in Sydney, and by gosh we have missed the piano accordion since the demise of Weddings, Parties, Anything. Whether they hail from Communist Yugoslavia or the outer limits of Tempe; Mikey and his Gentlemen friends understand how to compose a tale of death, joy and dark humour and I’ll drink from my tankard to that.

*** 1/2