As the title suggests, “World Music” is concerned with the music of different nations. The album contains Julia Kotova’s interpretations of 16 folk songs from around the globe, in which American rock sounds merge with strings and flute. Each song lends itself to a radical alteration of style transforming the original work while remaining an emotionally moving experience.
“Avrix Mi Galanica” welcomes us to the album with the silvery sounds of Sephardic Spain, leading into a beautiful and mesmerizing odyssey. The iconic sounds of “Apareka” cast visions of the clouds between the peaks of the Georgian Mountains. An upbeat cadence brings “Ev Chistr Ta Laou” into the fold, a Breton song with French lyrics. A peak track is “Scarborough Fair” due to its traditional English roots, Julia sings it with an angelic timbre and a wonderful arrangement of the piece. “E Kertemben” features playful and enchanting tones, the sound of which transports the audience to Hungary. The track, “Sol Invictus”, encapsulates love and renewal with a warm sound. “Nie Ma, Nie Ma Ciebie” is Polish melancholy appearing through dramatically striking strings, while “Za Vodú” is Czech elegance. “Lelita Saftita” brings raw Turkish energy which is equally balanced by the vibrant Bulgarian energy present in “Pustono Ludo I Mlad”.
“Hey Gidi Dünya Hey” captures the beauty of Turkish folklore while “Msho Axchik” delivers grief in the form of an Armenian genealogy. “Too in Zamoone” leans strongly towards Persian yet cannot be forgotten the same way and “Bhala Kisi Ka” is imbued with something quintessentially Indian. “Asadoya Yunta”, which is a Japanese lullaby, is calm but complex at the same time, while the Swedish “Varulven” rounds off the album with some sweet wisps of magic. ‘World Music’ pursues and brings to life, the guiding idea of Julia Kotova, the unity of mankind. It is a reminiscence of the olden days encoded in the eras to come. One for international music lovers – this album breaks all barriers.
Follow Julia Kotova on Spotify, Facebook and YouTube. Also Visit her Official Website
