David Krakauer has long been at the forefront of the Klezmer revival/new Klezmer both as a member of the folky  Klezmatics and with recordings for John Zorn's avant-garde Tzadik label. A New Hot One attempts to bring these two areas of work together by fusing traditional songs with modern sensibilities and exposing some of Krakauer's own material. 

The opener Klezdrix sets the tone with Krakauer's shrieking clarinet accompanied by the howling of Mark Stewart's cranked up electric guitar. Klezmer a la Bechet features a funky electric bass accompaniment and some skewed soul riffing from Stewart. The title track is driven by the astoundingly propulsive Kevin Norton with his long tuneful drum solo at its centre (Norton shines throughout this session with his precision flair). The notion that this is simply high octane wedding music is dispelled by the slow Love Song for Lemberg/Lvov which bursts from its sombre theme into violence in ear shattering fashion. The unremitting pace doesn't drop for the questioning Nine, Nine Ninety-Nine which soon winds itself up into a frenzy nor for the brutal lower case e where accordionist Ted Reichman and Norton stomp out a march for Krakauer to wail over. If I have any complaint it is that Krakauer's Ayleresque yelping can seem a bit relentless over the 55 minute programme - this is not a disc to listen to if you have a headache!

It would have been nice if one or two of the other band members were permitted more solo space - especially accordionist Ted Reichman, who is largely used for colour. Nevertheless this CD does stretch the boundaries of Klezmer in an enterprisingly modern way. I miss the fiddle though...

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