Music
Press
It’s only Rom’n’roll but they like it, as does most of the rest of Europe. No holds are barred as Terne Chave deliver tough songs about the realities of life, aided and abetted by a raucous performance. The title song refers not to romance but is a request for more cash, as the band reflects on the undeniable fact that money makes the world go round. They do however have their lighter side, and throw in a couple of ballads (girlfriends should wait for their men until they until come out of jail, a girlfriend should be handed over otherwise the village will be burned down, and so forth…). A rock sensibility and an ear for a good arrangement produce a hour’s worth of Rom-rock unlike any other. - Martin Gordon / www.wmce.de
This band plays old songs which they have learned from their grandparents combined with own compositions. Although the gypsy music is essential in their music, it doesn't stop there. They use influences from flamenco, rock, French chanson and many other styles. The CD is best described as a straight on gypsy-rock CD with solid and easy to listen to rock tunes. A real beauty is the song Coripen which is a duet between the lead singer of the band and Marina Pommier on guest lead vocals. There is also some reggae style in Suno dzavas and the CD contains four live bonus tracks from a concert in Prague.
What you get when you buy this CD is a band who enjoys what their doing. They sound energetic, intense and both modern and traditional. Music that brings positive energy to your life, much cheaper than your psychiatrist.
- Eelco Schilder / www.folkworld.de / January 2006
For years the Czech label “Indies” stays garant for music of all kind of directions. Mainly bands from the Czech Republic and neighbouring countries. The styles are completely different in number, from folk music till punk and betweeen these happens still a lot. That proves the group Terne Chave with its CD Avjam Pale. On a paper it is a Gypsy group where up-tempo acoustic-guitars and more vocal-singing are the main. The seven man group excist mainly from guitars and singers with of course a percussionists. And next to it, they are 8 guests here, which with singing, violins, drums, sax and sampler lead the group through international landscapes. Because of this the group sounds as an international ensemble, that has not only the Gypsy music as its priority, but Latin music too. The Gipsy Kings, but even more alive and open for mambo’s and even more. Sometimes traditionally, sometimes with a real being beat but always inviting for a party, like Manu Chao can do. Really good, from this time and Worlds-tasty. - Jwb, GONZO Magazine, NL
Technically Terne Chave is a Roma-band where up-tempo acoustic guitars and part-singing rule the roots. Rather than staying cooped up, the eight-strong crew, consisting mainly of guitar-players and singers (and of course a percussion player) travels around. Therefore it's not surprising that Kaj Dzas (Where we go), their second CD, features Latin, jazz, rock and dance music. Although gipsy music and traditions still form the core of the melodies and lyrics, they are interwoven with various musical styles.
In addition their music is well produced. Missing teeth and broken instruments are no longer part and parcel of Roma music. Melodiousness is accepted nowadays. And even without dental plates flying about the final four songs, live-recordings, are really groovy. In short, an enjoyable CD you can get your teeth into.
- Jan Willem Broek / www.subjectivisten.org / December 2004
Discography
Terne Chave: Avjam pale (Indies Rec., 2003)
Terne Chave: Kaj dzas (Indies Rec., 2004)
Gypsy Garden II (Soulstar Rec., 2005) - track: Loli ruza
Int. Gypsy Festival Tilburg compilation (2005) - track: Lavutaris
Terne Chave: Rosne divesa hin het (demo, 2007)
Terne Chave: More, love! (Indies Scope Rec., 2008)
Photos
Bio
There was a time when TERNE CHAVE was one of the most successful Czech gypsy bands around. But this isn’t completely true any more...
A couple of years ago the band stood on their own feet and crossed borders of Roma ghetto. Taking also gadjo friends as new musicians among themselves they set out into the big world. Touring Europe from Slovakia and Hungary via Italy, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands to Scotland, wherever they went people danced. Today the Terne Chave are a band without ethnic or genre limits but their gypsy roots give them a solid base for musical trips to areas too dangerous for others. The band doesn’t fuss about style too much and you will have no time to think about it too ‘cause much of their songs are played with the devil’s tempo. But in case you wouldn’t sleep this off we can reveal that this is the real gypsy rock’n’roll or ... IT’S ONLY ROM’N’ROLL!!!
Terne Chave have taken enough time to release their third album but it turns out to be very much worth it. It was released following a four years gap, produced by Petr Vysohlid (ex Czech cult band I.R.A.) with a ambiguous title "MORE, LOVE!". The english meaning of "more love" stands against the Roma meaning of "more, love!", which is like "money, mate!". This contrast of meanings in the title is consistently reflected throughout the entire album. Hearing it for the first time it is the sound of the band - besides the traditional accordion and violin one will notice also the electric guitar and samples. Next layers can be found within variety of styles of individual songs - rock, tango, folk, spiritual, dance rhythms and punk comes across well, mixed with traditional gypsy vocals, all this in a totally natural form. But mainly the slogan brings a message of the album: everything revolves around money, everyone wants cash and many people forget what in fact they need in a life - more love. The album "More, love!" expreses the contrast of old traditional gypsy songs with modern technology, the old with the modern world.
TERNE CHAVE 2008: The Bad Times Are Gone!
Yes, there have been bad times for the Terne Chave the last two years. It was clear something has to be changed but the ship was still drifting along and people dancing on upper deck so what more the f...g manager wants from us???
A Gypsy family is not like a Gadjo family - a lot of children, lot of brothers and sisters and other parts of the family and they all visit you as often as possible and want you to visit them too. This is a great opportunity to make lots of different businesses, which are urgent to do. There are also a lot of cars, which have to be changed with Gadjos (sorry for disappointing you, but no more horses these days...). Crazy western people in Germany and Austria get rid of so much of splendid and working stuff during ‘spermuells’ on their streets and Laco’s brother in law goes every week to help them to preserve their environment but he’s not able to cope with the quantity and needs somebody to help him. Of course then they all meet together in his house to celebrate a great business and drink a bit. In such a moment a possession of any musical instrument is highly appreciated matter. And next morning it rises in its value even up when it’s necessary to hock anything for money because unfortunately no money left from the poor job. No surprise that the band’s afternoon rehearsal has to be cancelled because of no guitar... And the last season also was not some big windfall - yes, we played some nice festivals and clubs, drank up some beers and some ‘slivovica’, were swimming in the sea and met lot of nice girls, but on the end when bought some gold and gifts for all the family a wallet left empty. Hard life... So why to go for so many concerts even so far from home like Italy, Belgium or Scotland???
In this situation some people left and the tottering band had to search not for a replacement only but for its own new face. This usually pains. Fortunately basis of the band has stayed together and some new people came. After several months of hard work now the bad times are gone and “MORE, LOVE!” is coming!
BEGINNINGS
"Terne Chave" means "Young guys" in Roma language. It’s a frequently used name for a gypsy band in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. But these "Terne Chave" are no greenhorns! They were a successful band in the Czech Republic already before 1989. But after the "velvet revolution", on the beginning of '90, skinhead’s movement in the Czech Republic was growing up fast and the musicians had several bad experiences on a stage because of their dark skin. That’s why they decided to leave off their musical career. Luckily each of them has the music in his blood and cannot live without it so in the 2001 they all got together again.
Gejza Bendig, leader of the band, tells about their beginning: "We all are from Hradec Kralove and have known each other since childhood. We basically grew up together because we lived on the same
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