Band Of Gypsies: Taraf De Haïdouks and Kocani Orkestar

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For those unfamiliar with the men on stage tonight, Band Of Gypsies: Taraf De Haïdouks and Kocani Orkestar are best described as a gypsy super group. Taraf De Haïdouks being a traditional Romanian fiddle and accordion orchestra, and Kocani Orkestar playing a dizzying blend of Macedonian Gypsy brass. Both renowned as leaders in the Balkan Gypsy world, they first collaborated for a one-off show in Romania some 11 years ago. Now they're back...in Hackney.

The first night of the week-long Barbican at Hackney Empire festival, the downstairs seating has been ripped out, perhaps pre-empting some appropriately raucous dancing. But it's a fairly sedate start, with just nine musicians, which is fairly indicative of the first 45 minutes of their set. Melodramatic, hyper-emotional music flits around as easily as dancer Atika Toualit. But it's after a 15 minute interval that the real magic begins.

A music geek's dream, they reel on instrument after instrument as the full 26-strong collective take to the stage. At its busiest there's a cymbalum, several accordions, a flute, darbouka, clarinet, trumpets, a tapan and even an electric guitar to name a few. It's full-on and the music is, of course, chaotic by design, but it comes together beautifully. There is never any danger of either band stepping on the other's toes (either musically or physically, as both bands are positioned on opposite sides of the stage in a semi-circle), and the two distinct styles compliment each other perfectly. So warm is the blend of sounds that the songs feel like playful old friends.

While the lyrics mean nothing to at least 75% of the audience (although those present who did understand were even more enthralled) the startling combination of olde strings and loud, bold brass create a passionately charged sound and, taking us on a whistle-stop tour of their geographic influences, they duck into their homelands as well as Serbia, Bulgaria, and Turkey.

On their album, Band Of Gypsies, the vocals are at times unpolished and raw, but live this works to their advantage, and the four or five singers who take lead vocals tonight put in an impassioned, and sometimes tongue in cheek, performance. Flutist Gheorghe Falcaru also plays the front man. Despite his advanced years he dances around the front of the stage, playing uplifting, flittering flute, and waving the crowd into a frenzy.

But for all the showmanship it's a rather more sedate character who wears the trousers. Violinist Robert Gherorge cuts a lonely figure, almost a little too far removed from the middle of the rabble. His instrument might be quieter than the booming drums and clattering saxophone, but it leads his charges in the manner of the most reliable of drummers. When the others cut out and leave him playing it's like hearing a Clapton guitar solo, and his position in the band is further highlighted when he takes the lead in the six-man finale.

Whether a novice, Gogol Bordello fan, or a Gypsy aficionado, you could not fail to be overjoyed by the musicians on show tonight. They'd got it all; the passion, talent...and above all else, they seemed to enjoy this special night as much as we did.