Search - Iveroni :: Iveroni

Traditional songs relate stories of love, heroism & brotherh

J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 08/28/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Aug 2008 .... The Republic of Georgia was in the headlines in the summer of 2008, and it wasn't in regards to their music. This album arrived in my mailbox at the very same time that Russia was aggressively invading the small, independent, pro-Western democracy to subordinate it and remove its freely elected President. I immediately put on this album and said a prayer for the refugees who were being forced to flee from their homes in the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions.



Regardless of the tense situation in their homeland, Iveroni is a group of five young talented musicians (Roman Lashkhia, Gieorgi Chikovani, Davit Batiashvili, Davit Gogitishivili, Beka Tcertcvadze). Their instruments are the panduri, bass panduri, salamuri, and changuri. Their traditional songs emphasize vocals, and they relate stories of love, heroism, and brotherhood. Producer Nathaniel Berndt traveled to the old city of Tblisi to record Iveroni on location. Additional liner notes would've been nice to explain more about this group, their music and songs. The war with Russia has left Georgia's countryside scorched by bombs and tank fire, and I wonder if Iveroni has songs that would be appropriate in such a circumstance. However, I highly doubt that they are out singing them until peace and freedom are restored to the Caucasus Mountains and Russian forces withdraw. (Joe Ross, 29 Palms, CA)

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