In the beginning there was polyphony and for ages, this was the one form of music that proliferated itself around civilization. Obviously, as time went on, instrumentation was developed to accompany voices but in the very beginning it was nothing but a multitude of voices. Today, the very idea of polyphony might seem a bit alien to a society that relies on software to create voices and songs but there are those groups out there that continue to keep the tradition alive. From Anonymous Four to Kitka there are those who still use gift of the human voice as an instrument to make traditional music.
Kitka's most current album, Cradle Songs is a stunning example of just how beautiful polyphony can be. The album is traditional stuff that comes to us from around the world and from a plethora of cultures. From Russian Jews, to Georgian, Romanian, and even Bulgarian sources comes these songs that are lullabies and which embrace Kitka's personal memories of childhood. It's haunting, touching, and absolutely gorgeous and is the result of long hours of searching through libraries and recordings to discover the history and sources of many of the songs that appear on Cradle Songs.
Cradle Songs is striking soul stirring stuff that sounds rich, textured, and mysterious. Taking us on an exploration of their research and their discoveries, the album plays out like the ancient history of the mother, the cradle, and the songs that go hand in hand with those things. Kitka have pieced together a fantastic set of songs that harken back to a period of time where traditions and family were even more important for survival. The songs that make up Cradle Songs reflect that as well as the beauty and mystery of life.
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