CD Review: Sarakina's 'Live In Studio'

Sarakina
Live In Studio
Amadeus

The Polish band, Sarakina, brings us a new album recorded during a live concert at Studio Rembrandt by Polish Radio Bialystok in Poland on February 23, 2014. The contemporary folk and Balkan musical connections are prevalent throughout with lush percussion and swirling rhythms led by strong, neo-classical vocals by Eliza Sacharczuk. Eliza's vocals are joined by kaval, bagpipes, tupan, tambura, clarinet, double-bass, and assorted percussion. The instrumental sections are vibrant, magical, and somewhat whimsical. The haunting and breathy kaval flute and organic drums, along with the dizzying sounds of the bagpipes, allows the album to explore various musical styles and influences ranging from the Mediterranean, the Balkans, Turkey, and Western Europe. There are some applause segments at the end of the songs, but it does not interfere with the flow of the album. The recording quality is excellent overall. Fans of Balkan folk, European folk, instrumental fusion, and lively world music will love Sarakina. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Potir's 'Gothic City' Recreates The Music of The Middle Ages

Potir
Gothic City
Sketis Music

Potir is a Russian group composed of Andrey Nazarov, Razana Rustom, Ivan Chernov, and Svetlana Petrova that brings back the music from Europe's Middle Ages with festive dirges, street music, and historic compositions. The music is performed with bassoon, viola, psalter, Bran's citra, dutar, peasant lute, citar, province drum, darbuka, aura, percussion, vocals, flutes, and bagpipes. Some of the instruments are up to three-hundred years old. The one-hour album contains sixteen tracks with instrumental, vocal music, and street music with all the commotion and noise of urban environments--minus the cars and trucks, of course. This is excellent music for anyone interested in the music of the Middle Ages, Renaissance fairs, and European folk music. Go back in time to the dark ages of civilization with the lighthearted music of Potir. ~ Matthew Forss