The Mystery Of The Bulgarian Voices will release their first album of new studio recordings in over two decades on May 25th, 2018. Better known to many as Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares (Grammy winner for “Best Traditional Folk Recording”), ‘BooCheeMish’ sees the esteemed Bulgarian choir performing together with erstwhile 4AD Records label mate Lisa Gerrard (co-founder of the duo Dead Can Dance) on several tracks, thereby uniting two of the most distinctive vocal acts working in music. Gerrard, who is also well known for her movie soundtrack work on films such as ‘Gladiator’ and ’The Insider’, has often spoken about the influence the choir exerted on her singing technique when she discovered their music in the early 1980’s.
Voices is a compilation of three orchestral works and one solo piece by Derek Bermel (b. 1967). Seductively called his spectral potion, Elixir reflects Bermel's influences as varied as John Lennon, Charles Ives, and the Isley Brothers. Thracian Echoes embraces the soulful harmonies of traditional Bulgarian melodies whereas Dust Dances is a translation of an African gyil music session into orchestral idioms. In Voices, Bermel himself performs the brilliantly written concerto for clarinet with impressive virtuosity. Thanks to the infectious charisma of Gil Rose and his musicians, this recording brings to life the eclecticism and verve that defines the music of Derek Bermel.
The Bulgarian State Radio & Television Vocal Choir, 24 voices strong, takes traditional harvest songs, odes, and laments and wraps them in modern arrangements that preserve and polish the age-old qualities of this exotic and compelling music. Their beautiful and dissonant harmonies float and shift in waves of piercingly clear sound, often built on complex meters and off-center, chant-like rhythms. A strong Asian flavor is heard, full of emotional intensity, ranging from full choral treatments to solos, trios, and quartets.