If there ever was a Gogol Bordello album that deserves to launch them onto American radio waves, it’s Pura Vida Conspiracy.
Gogol Bordello now sound truly skilful – the needle and thread approach on display here is a pleasant surprise and a little unexpected.
This changing dynamic is a good example of the group making an effort to be true to themselves by acknowledging that they have changed in some ways from the roving band of singing gypsies that they started out as
At its best, Pura Vida Conspiracy is a consistently raucous exposition of stylistic souvenirs from Hütz’s continuously expanding catalog of international influences.
This is no departure for Gogol Bordello in terms of sound or subject, and does pretty much what you’d expect.
Between the spirited music and Hütz's delivery, you're not likely to walk away from Pura Vida feeling uninspired.
All in all, this album ventures away from Gogol Bordello's previous sound, straying into territory that is more classic rock or in some cases folk. For fans of their music, this new departure may not be entirely to your taste. It is however, markedly still the work of Gogol Bordello.