Recorded in June 1991, this music could easily have been recorded even decades earlier, so untouched is the sound. The Lela family of Permet, Albania, is a potent ensemble of demanding voices joined by a band of clarinets,... more » accordion, guitar, percussion, and violin. Most of the music is painfully sad, slowly building and winding around voices that could break hearts. The polyphonic singing is similar to Bulgarian and other types of music from the Balkan peninsula, but this is not of the mystère choir style. This is gritty, earthy music that pulls at the gut, sinewy music that has a peculiar, improvisational cadence all its own. There isn't much to be heard from contemporary Albania on CD, but even if there were, this disc would be top-ranked. --Louis Gibson« less
Recorded in June 1991, this music could easily have been recorded even decades earlier, so untouched is the sound. The Lela family of Permet, Albania, is a potent ensemble of demanding voices joined by a band of clarinets, accordion, guitar, percussion, and violin. Most of the music is painfully sad, slowly building and winding around voices that could break hearts. The polyphonic singing is similar to Bulgarian and other types of music from the Balkan peninsula, but this is not of the mystère choir style. This is gritty, earthy music that pulls at the gut, sinewy music that has a peculiar, improvisational cadence all its own. There isn't much to be heard from contemporary Albania on CD, but even if there were, this disc would be top-ranked. --Louis Gibson
CD Reviews
Startling
10/09/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This amazing CD of music from the town of Permet in southern Albania may be one of the more obscure titles in my collection, but it certainly does deserve to be heard. This one is a must for world music fans, and anyone else who yearns for music that, as others have said, will nourish your soul."
Rare and authentic
07/12/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Another heart shattering musical beauty from the land called Albania. The purity of the music and its hypnotizing polyphonic sound unheard of anywhere in the world. One doesn't have to know the language to enjoy this beautiful music of the soul."
Polyphonies Vocales Et Instrumentales D'Albanie
11/24/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The music was sad and eerily sensual; The kind of music that motivates the spirit!"
Southern Albanian Music Rules
07/29/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD will make you cry... It's such a spiritual music played from the heart of the Southern Albanian... it's more than music... it's soul's food..."
...plus!!!
K. Vuthi | new york, ny | 05/26/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"5 stars make this one equal with lots of other ones. So make it 5+++... Sorry Kind of Blue to put you second on my list.But there's no other jazz musician like these old and young members of one family from the town called Permet. It's incredible music, perfection, jazz at its best.It's lush, happy, sad, powerful,dreammy,joyful, real and sooo raw. You can hear it in their voices and their instruments.Just the exact notes no more no less. No polishings. No commercial in here! If you can understand the words will be a plus. Not that they matter but they'll put a smile in your face and appriciate their rawness even more. If you ever thought of buying any Albo music this should be the only one!"