Oy Vesna Krasna

Karolina Węgrzyn is a Polish-born singer now resident in the UK. Oy Vesna Krasna (Oh, Beautiful Spring) is her debut album “celebrating the changing seasons, love, loss, and the rich tapestry that define her heritage”, featuring traditional songs from Poland and elsewhere in eastern Europe. The title-track is Ukrainian, in three voices, all sung by Węgrzyn. This song is unaccompanied, but elsewhere she plays accordion and hammer dulcimer (cymbały) traditionally found in southeastern Poland where she grew up in a family of traditional singers and dancers. Alongside six Polish songs there are others on Oy Vesna Krasna in North Macedonian, Ukrainian and Carpatho-Rusyn. ‘Ako Umram Il Zaginam (When I Die or Perish)’ is particularly attractive with its typically Macedonian 7/8 rhythm and powerful violin lines. ‘Oj W Moim Ogródecku (Oh, In My Garden)’ is a slightly over-sentimental waltz with clarinet, violin and guitar. Still, it’s mostly the raw vocal power of Węgrzyn’s voice that comes through, such as on ‘Ej Kołem Wionku (Round Wreath)’, a complaint about a wife-beating husband, or the closing ‘Rozczesała Rozpuściła (Wedding Song)’, which features Węgrzyn’s accordion and cymbały playing as well as multi-tracked vocals.