AMG Review of Soup of the Century

Alex Henderson
All Music Guide

When was the last time you heard country music sung in Japanese? Something that outlandish could only be attempted by the ever-adventurous 3 Mustaphas 3. Every bit as daring and fun as its predecessor, Soup of the Century finds the risk-taking Britons singing in languages ranging from Hindi to Spanish to Albanian and playing everything from Hawaiian guitar to Scottish/Celtic bagpipes to Greek bouzoukis. Middle Eastern music remains their foundation, and like before, these eccentric players don't hesitate to draw on influences from all over the globe. "Soba Song" is essentially country music, but with mostly Japanese lyrics (and touches of Jewish klezmer thrown in), while "This City Is Very Exciting!" may be the only time Mexican ranchero music has been sung in Hindi. And on "Lipovacko Kolo," the Mexican polka beat is united with both Celtic music and klezmer.