ALBUM REVIEWS

SONGLINES JUNE 2015:★★★★
Two choirs in perfect harmony / Kim Burton

Eight female vocalists — four Finnish and four Bulgarian — meet here in a collaboration that stems from a course of study pursued in Bulgaria by Finnish composer and arranger Emmi Kujanpää. She is clearly a mainstay and driwing force behind the meeting, composing a number of originals and arranging others, and is evidently home in the styles of both nations, to judge by "Peperuda" which straddles both styles.

The Finnish songs are enchanting and thoughtfully arranged, some with the harmonic tension and rhytmic spring of the Finnish fiddle bands, and other weaving quiet descants over gentle chants. The Bulgarian tunes, although beautifully performed and smartly arranged, are perhaps less intriguing simply because they are more familiar in sound and style. Indeed, they seem almost staid in comparison to the fresher sounds of songs such as "Pyy Pesätön Lintu", which made me look up in surprise and delight as I was listening. I would have like to heard them more of them. But the Bulgarian sound will still be new to some, no doubt, and there is plenty of rewarding listening to be had in this rather gorgeous recording. 

FROOTS 1/2015: 
"Very good half-Finnish, half-Bulgarian female vocal octet with excellent, varied arrangements of strong material, from both traditions and new compositions, none of it the usual stuff. Far more productive, interesting and its own beast than the choirs abroad or in Bulgaria, who just follow the Mystere de V B trail."



FINNISH MUSIC QUARTERLY 1—2/2015: 
Excellent vocal meeting / TD
"These eight talented women come together to sing repertoire from both countries, to explore similarities and differencies.  — — The Bulgarian singers are very impressive in their tight sound, while the Finnish ones also provide soft and lyrical nuances in their voices." 

LIRA 1/2015, Gunder Wåhlberg:
"Som kör använder Finno-Balkan Voices sina röster på ett mycket varierat sätt och växlar mellan mjud inåtvändhet och stark utlevelse. De skapar en röstvärld som är rik av känslouttryck, stämmor och stämnigar som lyfter sången."

★★★★ Juha Seitz Ilkka / Pohjalainen 18.1.2015: 
"On perin antoisaa kuulla, että suomalainen ja balkanilainen kansanmusiikki voivat limittyä sulavasti yhteen. Kotimaisen Mamon ja bulgarialaisen Vaya Quartetin muodostama ryhmä antaa lauluäänten soida helein vivahtein. Harmoniset folk-kudelmat pursuilevat kauneutta ja komeutta, mikä tekee Finno-Balkan Voicesin esikoislevystä kiehtovan elämyksen." 
Tove Djupsjöbacka / Huvudstadsbladet 21.1.2015 & Kansanmusiikki 4 /2014: 
"Musikaliska möten mellan kulturer löper ofta stor risk för att bli ytliga, men här känns mötet genuint — man bugar djupt mot båda ländernas traditioner och satsar ändå ambitiöst på att också komma med något nytt." 


"Olen positiivisesti yllättynyt siitä, miten toimivia yhteyksiä musiikkiperinteiden välillä on löydetty. Kerrassaan vaikuttavaa on bulgarialaisen laulun ja vienalaisen kelkettelyn kohtaaminen. — —Tyylillä tehty kokonaisuus, nostan hattua!" 



A blog review by Norwegian Espen Noervåg Slapgård: