Customer Reviews

Voices on Eastern Wind

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This cd by the Bay Area group Kitka is a beautiful and exotic mix of vocal traditions from Eastern Europe. The soothing harmonies and exciting disonances make this a thoughoughly enjoyable disc, recommended for relaxation, relief from tension or just the experience of listening. (Be warned, results may vary).

This is an OK album. The people who I know who have it find it nowhere near as exciting as Kitka's live performances. While not recorded obviously badly, it lacks a certain brilliance and edge which is an essential part of this style of music. I happened to run into the guy who did the recording, and he told me that during the live recording, they forgot to turn off a ventilation fan, and had to filter the sound afterwards. The only song recorded in a different session is the one with clarinet, which does have that brilliant "get up and jump" feeling of Kitka. The excellence of Kitka's technique comes through in this recording, but the spirit's lacking. Buy a different Kitka album.

This is another beautiful album from Kitka. At first I was reluctant to get it based on the review that down graded it, which you can read. I really hesitate to compare Kitka's albums. For sure each album is going to contain songs that anyone might not favor as much as others. There is not a dull lack luster piece in the entire six albums that I am so glad I have. It is reasonable to get momentarily tired of listening to any song or album, and for that possibility I have amply compensated by having all that are available. I wish there were more. There are some really outstanding songs on this album. I like the second, third, eight and ninth a lot today. The thirteenth is a trip. It is mostly instrumental using what I believe is called the "Gaida", a Bulgarian bagpipe made from a goats bladder (I think). Voices join in at a certain point and the medley is beautiful and exciting. Bagpipe music is definitely strange. They have another instrument called the "Gadulka", which is a three stringed violin placed on the knee as it is bowed. Both these instruments are usually played very energetically and have a distinct nasal sound. It seems to me that the voicing of Bulgarian songs must have evolved with the evolution of these instruments. There is such a striking similarity. But the crowning glory of this album it the last piece.called "Vetar Vee". It is an American composition sung in Bulgarian. An incredible example of the creativity of this all women's chorus.