today I'm listening to... KITKA

today I'm listening to:

http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/kitka-wintersongs/

I heard one of the songs whilst watching a video so checking out the album.
http://cafesiena.blogspot.com/2006/03/bloom.html

I hadn't heard of KITKA before - they're a group of Eastern European women vocalists.
http://magnatune.com/artists/kitka

"Kitka is a professional women's vocal ensemble dedicated to producing concerts, recordings, and educational programs that develop new audiences for music rooted in Eastern European women's vocal traditions. Kitka also strives to expand the boundaries of this music as an expressive art form."

" Now approaching its 25th Anniversary season, Kitka was founded in 1979 as an offshoot of the Westwind International Folk Ensemble. Kitka began as a grassroots group of amateur singers from diverse ethnic and musical backgrounds who met regularly to share their passion for the stunning dissonances, asymmetric rhythms, intricate ornamentation, lush harmonies, and resonant strength of Eastern European women's vocal music. Under the artistic direction of vocalist, composer, and conductor Bon Brown Singer from 1981 to 1996, Kitka blossomed into a refined professional ensemble earning international renown for its artistry, versatility, and mastery of the demanding techniques of Balkan and Slavic vocal styling."