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Steel Strings & Iron Curtains on CD

A special project of Plamen Press-four years in the making and sponsored in part by the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences, Washington DC- Steel Strings and Iron Curtains expands Plamen Press's mission to bring Central, Eastern, and Southeastern European culture to an English-speaking audience via the iconic songwriting and musical stylings of Karel Kryl and Jaromir Nohavica. In their native Czech, Kryl and Nohavica are known for powerful, politically-minded, existential lyrics that inspired generations living behind the Iron Curtain. Just in time for the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, Steel Strings & Iron Curtains introduces the English-speaking community to Central Europe's versions of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, Ray LaMontagne and Elliot Smith. While Plamen Press is striving to present Kryl and Nohavica as literary artists, this project does not marginalize the significance of it's music. Quite the opposite. Here the beauty of Kryl's and Nohavica's songs is infused with elements of Gypsy Jazz, played by guitarist Tomas Drgon and violinist Christina Kharazian, in arrangements which include traditional Slovakian and Moravian instruments such as the fujara and the koncovka, masterfully handled by Bob Rychlik. All songs were translated into English for the first time for this release by co-producer Roman Kostovski, who partnered with Producer Ian Jones (Sun King Records), known for his work with Reggae master Claudius Linton, to realize the masterful arrangements of the music. In addition to Ian's talents, we were fortunate to have worked with The Yehla Collective, a truly international and talented group of musicians from the Baltimore/DC area: Anna Connolly (USA), Tomáš Drgoň (Slovakia), Ian Jones (USA), David Keplinger (USA), Christine Kharazian (Armenia), Reggie Love (USA), and Bohuslav Rychlik (Czech Republic). "well-selected collection of songs by Karel Kryl & Jaromir Nohavica.wonderfully performed.. " - Vladimir Merta