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Opening up with the appropriately entitled ‘Hello’ you think this is going to be Cinematic Orchestra inspired soundtrack and then sort of flips with a theme from Bluba Lu’s Bulgarian roots. Bluba Lu being a trio of Konstantin Katsarski, Dimitar Paskalev and Andronia Popova-Roni

And the vocals are such sweet tone; described as “vocal-symphonic” they seem to perfectly harmonise with the strings, and we’re only on track 2! The addition of the trio, Ilia Mihaylov was brought in to conduct the Primo Chamber Orchestra. Yep, this is a true live project that was recorded as such. So whilst vocalist Roni almost steels the show with her sexy vocals, as on ‘Beyond’ and the single ‘Nevermind’/’To Love You’ (see review HEREand video), the orchestra and band are at least equal.

Of course they need to be put into a bag the obvious worn out trip-hop, nu-jazz, downtempo would be the obvious; the trouble with that is that “bag” is not quite good enough for World Melancholy. They’ve already released five albums on their own Yellow Music label but a remix album could be very interesting indeed as they’ve previously collaborated with LTJ Bukem.

World Melancholy is a big step up in all departments and other tracks to fall in love with are ‘Hold Back’, ‘Free Me’ (a clever broken percussive beat with clarinet solo), the vocally sexual ‘Breath’ plus the tacks on the single.

I thought the single was al a James Bond theme, but ‘You And Me’ is even more so as it’s full of suspense, strings and horns. On the subject of Bond, the track that comes closest to a chase, ‘Let Us Thrill’ is a little off kilter compared to the rest of the album (one for the shuffle samba mix tapers - look out for it in DJ charts).

If you’ve ever been seduced by Heritage Orchestra, Massive Attack, Portishead, Break Reform, Belleruche, Lizzy Parks, Cinematic Orchestra, Future Loop Foundation, this is an album for you - isn’t that just about everyone? Love this more and more on every listen.

I’m told that live Bluba Lu leave you feeling “aurally ravished”, on the evidence of this CD I can well believe it.

Reviewed: Bluba Lu - World Melancholy (Blubalu Records) Cat. No. 3LCDLP004 Release date: 27th October 2008
1. Hello (3:50)
2. The Cage (4:02)
3. Beyond (4:46)
4. Nevermind (6:09)
5. Hold Back (5:05)
6. To Love You (5:30)
7. Free Me (4:46)
8. Breath (5:35)
9. You And Me (3:08)
10. Growing Fast (5:24)
11. Let Us Trill (4:33)
12. Lately (5:11)
13. Good Morning Morning (1:50)
14. Nevermind (Bluba Lu Remix) (5:44)

Links
www.blubalu.net
www.myspace.com/blubalu
www.worldmelancholy.net