Šuma Čovjek Jumping on the Ringišpil

Quite possibly the most multilingual band in the world, Šuma Čovjek have moulded all the languages spoken by their many members into one new album. Entitled “Ringišpil“ (“carousel”), it is their third, out now.

Jumping backwards and forwards between French, Croatian, English, Arabic, Spanish, Romanes and German in their lyrics (sometimes within the same line), the repertoire of this hydra-like outfit fuses not just the backgrounds of their two lead singers, Ivica Petrušić and Hafid Derbal, but of all the other members, too. Similarly, there is room for a lot of experimental fusion in their music, ranging from Balkan wedding marches to sweetly chanson-like ballads, and from cheery pop tunes to hip hop-flavoured crowd-pleasers laced with raucous brass parts. The whole caboodle, needless to say, is huge fun.

Or, in the words of their press release: “What we have in common only survives in interaction: on stage, between band and audience, and in our society. The title song is reminiscent of the cheerful, over-the-top and yet dreamy music from well-known Balkan films. The Serbo-Croatian refrain is supported by an anthemic melody line with strings and winds. In addition, there is the energetic French chanting, accompanied by stomping polka beats.”

Šuma Čovjek