Hungarian folk quartet Vándor Vokál is devoted to the polyphonic vocal traditions of southeastern Europe—of Bulgaria in particular. Its four female singers are not merely performers— they are also musicologists who make field-recordings to preserve, study, and master the intricacies and variations of this traditional musical form. The nineteen tracks on their debut album, Feljött a Hold / Ogrejala Meszeciskna (“Moon Shining” in both Hungarian and Bulgarian), reflect their tremendous skill at polyphonic ensemble singing and their fidelity to folk styles and instruments. About half the tracks feature unaccompanied vocals; the others feature vocals backed by a small instrumental ensemble that includes tambura, kaval (a Bulgarian shepherd’s flute), duda (Hungarian bagpipes), and various percussion instruments. The songs are short, ranging mostly between two and three minutes (the longest is five minutes) and include both lively dance tunes and slow pieces like “Jermeija”. Obvious points of comparison are Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares and the Trio Bulgarka, although the vocals and harmonies here seem even smoother and more polished. There’s no rock or prog influence at all in Vándor Vokál’s music, but those Exposé readers who are open to trying unadulterated Balkan folk music will find this to be a real treat.

Jim Chokey