Adrian Raso & Fanfare Ciocărlia at Hot Milk Studio Berlin.
Case study

Adrian Raso & Fanfare Ciocărlia

The Devil Rides Again

Drum, percussion and tuba sessions for the album The Devil Rides Again — recorded at Hot Milk Studio.

A Reunion with Momentum

Nearly ten years after Devil's Tale, Adrian Raso and Fanfare Ciocărlia reunited to continue a musical partnership that had already proven remarkably distinctive. What began as an ambitious cross-genre experiment evolved into a confident and fully realized artistic dialogue.

Where Styles Collide

The Devil Rides Again brings together Raso's guitar and banjo work with Fanfare Ciocărlia's unmistakable brass sound. Original compositions sit alongside reimagined classics, moving effortlessly between Balkan grooves, jazz phrasing, rockabilly attitude, and cinematic textures.

Recording the Foundation

The drum, percussion, and tuba sessions were recorded at Hot Milk Studio and became a defining part of the album's sonic character. Special attention was given to capturing warmth, depth, and a cinematic sense of space while preserving the immediacy of the performances. The session photographs offer a glimpse into the recording process behind the rhythmic and low-end foundation of the record.

Certificate — Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik 2025 awarded to Fanfare Ciocărlia & Adrian Raso for The Devil Rides Again.

Award

Honoured with the German Record Critics' Award 2025

In August 2025, The Devil Rides Again was honoured by the Association of German Record Critics (Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik) as a recording of exceptional artistry and selected as one of the Quarterly Best of new releases for the third quarter of 2025. For everyone who lived with this album for months — Adrian Raso, producer Henry Ernst of Asphalt Tango Records, the musicians of Fanfare Ciocărlia and myself, Robert Cummings, on mixing and mastering — this recognition means a great deal. The German Record Critics' Award is one of the most respected juried honours in the European music world, and to see a project that crosses so many borders — Balkan brass, jazz, rockabilly, cinematic Americana — embraced on its own terms is genuinely humbling. It is a quiet confirmation that the risks we took together in the studio were worth taking. The album's selection, in the World Music category, is listed on the award's own site: Quarterly Critic's Choice, Q3 2025.

Musicians

  • Adrian Raso

    guitar, banjo, mandolin and electric bass

  • Costel Oprica Ivancea

    alto saxophone

  • Costica "Cimai" Trifan

    trumpet and vocals

  • Laurentiu Mihai Ivancea

    tenor horn

  • Constantin Calin

    baritone horn

  • Mihaita Sergiu Nastase

    helicon

  • Paul Benedikt Stehlescu

    drums and percussion

  • Mike Rao

    upright bass

Adrian Raso at Hot Milk Studio.
Sergeu of Fanfare Ciocărlia tracking at Hot Milk Studio.
Benedikt at the drum kit, Hot Milk Studio.
Michael and Henry in session at Hot Milk Studio.

Have a project in mind? Let's plan a session.

Book a Session