Songs of Forbidden Love

Under the assured leadership of Dessislava Stefanova, The London Bulgarian Choir have become a very impressive outfit. The LBC consist of London-based Bulgarians, British and other nationalities who love to raise their voices in polyphony and have done a great job at bringing an ancient European vocal style to new audiences. So much so they have been employed in collaborations with British Sea Power, Doves and Cerys Matthews. Yet it is on their own that the LBC are at their most powerful and here on their third album they demonstrate the epic, eerie music they can create with great verve and confidence.

Across the album 20 voices – almost equally divided between male and female – take Bulgarian folk songs that are often centuries old and breathe fresh life into them. The arrangements are never overloaded (quite a feat with so many voices) and the sparse instrumental backing (largely hand drums, but didgeridoo works brilliantly as a low-end throb on ‘Dimjaninka and the Dragon’) adds weight to performances. With so many members to choose from, the LBC offer up some rich vocal solos -I especially enjoyed the deep male voice on ‘Momiche Golem Gjavolo’. All in all, a very impressive effort.