Viktor Mastoridis Pesnite Zvezdeni (Starry Songs) CD

As much the local Jazz, Pop and Underground scene are thriving and interesting ones, the music of the Republic of Macedonia is best known for its Traditional songs and dances.Having been influenced and itself influencing the ethnic Balkan music, the folklore music of the Macedonian people (narodna muzika) has brought up wonderful melodies, dances and indeed magical moments to all those encountering it.The album Pesnite Zvezdeni (Starry Nights) presents a dozen of those so called "pearls" to the peoples with love and passion for the soulful, warm, ballad-like folk.Following the tradition of rural and urban (starogradska muzika) styles, it offers a beautifully recorded mélange of Lyric, Epic, Labour and Patriotic songs.Building in the tradition of the old urban bands called "Calgii", it offers fresh, smooth arrangements which only add to, but never take of the beauty of the songs themselves.The music of the Balkans is known for its complex rhythms, and Macedonia is not an exception; but the sort of miracle and majesty of the ancient song-makers is that these rhythms are seamlessly interweaved into the musical mood, adding a dynamic dimension, rather than feeling odd.The 7/8 (3+2+2) rhythm for example, is called "pravoto" in Macedonia - the "straight" rhythm. It's the way those people feel, breathe and live the music. A much natural way.There are many distinctive folk instruments used in Macedonia, but Pesnite Zvezdeni uses the Tambura (tamboura) to express its often lyrical mind-set. Tamboura is a plucked string instrument with elegiac sound (more info here)Accompanied by Acoustic Guitars, Bass-guitar, Dajre (tambourine) and Tarabuka (hourglass drum) in the faster tracks, with a suitable mellow production, adding a few newly composed folk songs, the album Starry Nights brings forward the sounds of one of the last romantic musical cultures in Europe.Similar (and much honored) artists include: Nikola Badev, Tale Ognenovski,Vaska Ilieva and Aleksandar Sarievski