More Merch

"travels brilliantly between solid folk origins and avant garde play with a surprise at every corner" - Jude Rogers, The Guardian (Folk Album of the Month) ****

"impressive musicianship and creative originality" - Tony Benjamin, Jazzwise ****

"Can traditional Jewish music ever be considered 'punk'? In the hands of these composers, it can." - Richard Allen, A Closer Listen

"The resulting menagerie of sound is at once moder, avant-garde and deeply traditional." - Nathaniel Handy, Songlines Magazine

"Every so often, a record comes along, takes you by the lapels and gives you a damn good shake." - Gordon Rutherford, Louder Than War

UNFURL
Liner Notes

ROCKERS

Composed by Fran & Flora + Sam Beste

A loop and layered based improvisation.

Violin - Flora Curzon

Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg

Electronics - Sam Beste

DOINA I

Trad Arr. Fran & Flora

Doina i is a transcription and interpretation of a very old Jewish Doina captured on wax cylinder and originally named ‘National Hora.1’. It is taken from the archival recording collection ‘Yikhes (Lineage) - Early Klezmer Recordings 1911-1939’ where originally the violinist (and renowned band leader) Abe Schwartz doubles up his E & A strings in octaves, stylistic at the time, and is accompanied by his daughter Sylvia Schwartz on piano.

Source: National Hora, Part 1. Yikhes: Early Klezmer Recordings from 1911-1939

Violin - Flora Curzon

Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg

Synth - Flora Curzon

Electronics - Sam Beste

ROMANIAN FANTASIES

Trad Arr. Fran & Flora

Romanian Fantasies is an amalgamation of two short instrumental Jewish pieces originally recorded by violinist Josef Solinski and an unknown cimbalom player onto a wax cylinder c.1911 in Russia. This is part of a larger suite from the earlier recordings which Fran & Flora have combined two into a modern lyrical interpretation of the original tune and ambiguous accompaniment. The cimbalom part (hammer dulcimer) is replaced by Francesca’s percussive cello line and Flora’s melody flows evocatively over the top.

Source: Josef Solinski recording 1910

Violin - Flora Curzon

Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg

LA OBREJA

Trad Arr. Flora Curzon

This doina is a traditional song from Banat, Romania which Flora learnt when visiting Marin Bunea and Chisinau, Moldova.

Source: Marin Bunea, Achim Nica

With help on pronunciation from Monooka 

Vocals - Flora Curzon

Lyrics:

ENGLISH

In a garden in Obreja
A longing took root (began)

Au au au (interjections as in to express a hearthache) Ioane Ioane (man name, would translate to John in english)

I am dying after you.

I wanted to take him with me

But the roots are keeping him

Au au au sister sister

Stay with us still for a talk

ROMANIAN

La Obreja-ntr-o grădină

O prins doru' rădăcina

Au, au, au... Ioane, Ioane

După tine doda moare.

Eu am vrut să-l iau cu mine

Da' rădăcina îl ţâne

Au, au, au... dodă, dodă

Ia mai stai cu noi dă vorbă.

GEAMPORALES

Trad / Florea Turcita Arr. Fran & Flora, and Linde Timmermans

Fran & Flora learnt this up-beat dance tune from their friend Linde Timmermans (Belgian violinist, composer and horse-whisperer) who features as lead violin on the ‘unfurl’ recording. Geamporales is a traditional dance tune in a 7/8 groove from Romania written by Florea Turcita.

Source: Marcel Ramba

Violins - Flora Curzon and Linde Timmermans

Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg

DOINA II

Trad Arr. Fran & Flora

Fran & Flora learnt this dark free-flowing lament from Hungarian Roma violinist István “Kiscsipás” Varga from Kalotaszeg, Transylvania. Whilst staying true Doina’s original form, this performance leaves space for real-time improvisation and winding developments.

Source: “Kiscsipás” Varga from Kalotaszeg, Transylvania.

Violin - Flora Curzon

Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg

TALKING TREES

Trad Arr. Fran & Flora

This is a traditional tune from the Thracian region. While its ultimate origin and date unknown, Fran & Flora learnt it in Crete from the Cretan Lyra master Ross Daly in 2016.

Source: Ross Daly

Violin - Flora Curzon

Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg

Vocals - Francesca Ter-Berg

Percussion - Flora Curzon

Electronics - Sam Beste

MAYN RUE PLATZ

Lyrics and Melody by Morris Rosenfeld, Arr. Fran & Flora

Mayn Rue Platz (My Resting Place) is a reinterpretation of well known Yiddish poem & melody by Morris Rosenfeld, one of the 'Sweat Shop Poets' of early 20th century New York. Sung by Francesca Ter-Berg and arranged by Fran & Flora and Sam Beste, the poem and song both tell the true story of a factory worker who died in a fire, singing to his lover from the afterlife. The words capture the dismal life of the factory worker which is contrasted with the beauty of their shared dreams.

Vocals - Francesca Ter-Berg

Violin - Flora Curzon

Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg

Piano - Sam Beste

Electronics - Sam Beste

Help with Yiddish pronunciation from Rachel Weston

NUBAR NUBAR
Trad Arr. Fran & Flora

This is an Armenian curcuna dance tune in a fast 10 beat rhythm, divided into 4 slow beats. Fran & Flora believe it to be written by the living Armenian composer and oud player, John Berberian.

Source: Giorgos Papaioannou

Violin - Flora Curzon

Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg

Frame Drum / percussion - Simon Roth

DEPARTURES
Fran & Flora

A montage of improvisations by Fran & Flora and Sam Beste

Violin - Flora Curzon

Cello - Francesca Ter-Berg

Vocals - Flora Curzon

Electronics - Sam Beste

Recorded, produced and mixed by Sam Beste 2015-2018

Mastered by Peter Beckmann 2018

Artwork by Alan Lee 2018

THANKS

This album could not have been made without the help of many people. In particular we would like to thank our inspiring teachers - Tcha Limberger, Giorgos, Ross Daly, Csipi, Marcel Ramba, Marin Bunea - as well as the many living and late musicians from whose recordings we have learnt many beautiful tunes including Josef Solinski. We would also like to extend heartfelt thanks to Rachel Weston and Monooka for helping us with the lyrics and translations of of Mein Rue Platz and La Obreja; Alan Lee for the the generous gift of his beautiful illustrations; and Hejira / Lima Limo Records and Ben Mandelson, for all their support, time and advice over the years. Special thanks also to all those who supported our Crowdfunder Campaign and pre-ordered the album, with particular thanks to Elizabeth Howe.

We have done our best to credit all the musicians from whom we have learnt this music; it we have missed someone, please get in touch with us.