The result of an impromptu jam between various members of Transglobal Underground and Balkan Fanatik, the U.N.I.T.E: A Gathering of Strangers gig proved unequivocally that music transcends all language barriers.
With a diverse range of musical and cultural backgrounds on stage, the whole set was, in itself, a journey - echoing the themes of the songs, which had been chosen due to their links with exile or the exiled.
Favourites such as ’Van Dieman’s Land’ and ’My Lagan Love’ were interspersed with traditional songs from Hungary and Bulgaria - all the time underlined by the distinct trance-like bass and drum lines, which have become synonymous with a Transglobal Underground arrangement.
Special guests Jim Moray and Martin Furey led the majority of the traditional English-language adaptations, which included an adaptation of Jim’s version of ’Lucy Wan’ - complete with a recording of Bubbz, although his contribution to the story was less prominent due to the strong drumline and booming bass.
With the original collaboration having been between Transglobal Underground and Balkan Fanatik, it is unsurprising that much of the evening’s performance was not conducted in English. Instead, the night seemed to switch effortlessly between English, Hungarian and Bulgarian, a mix which echoed the wandering theme at the heart of so many of the tracks.
Guest artists, the Perunika Trio, had a particularly strong fanbase, and as their unique close harmonies filled the room, they were greeted with cheers from the small crowd who had begun to drift closer to the stage in order to dance. Choosing to perform three songs from their native Bulgaria, the Trio sung completely a cappella, even incorporating a short burst of Bulgarian rap, into their solo set.
Throughout the performance, a projector screen behind the stage displayed a montage of video, stills and audio content, to accompany the musical performance. Sometimes, as with ’Lisbon’ the relationship between the two was clear - the footage of soldiers training for war, captured perfectly the emotions hidden within Jim Moray and Nori Kovac’s mournful duet. At other times, however, the pictures raised more questions than the lyrics provided answers.
The end result, however, was an incredibly slick, well-choreographed and hugely intense performance, which sought to engage more than your ears - proving that even when the language is unfamiliar, the themes of the music can still be understood.
By the time the two hour set came to its conclusion, the stage seemed hardly big enough to fit the assembled ’gathering of strangers’. Choosing to end on a more light-hearted note, it was the Perunika Trio who brought the night to a close with an Asian-influenced song about camels! And the audience clearly approved, leaving the formal cabaret-style seating for the impromptu dance-area in front of the stage, with glow-sticks at the ready.
A thoroughly enjoyable evening.
