The Eastern European musical heritage has made its mark on Scandinavian music (and Western music as a whole) the past years, with artists in a wide variety of genres using especially the, in my book, incredibly life-affirming beats that folk music in and around Balkan has at the very core.

Icelandic ensemble (they are 11 and count among others múm, Sigur Rós and Benni Hemm Hemm collaborators) Stórsveit Nix Noltes take it a step further. Instead of adding Balkan to the beat, they add rock to Balkan. Or Bulgaria to be exact, as all 10 tracks on their second album ‘Royal Family – Divorce’ are revamped versions of traditional Bulgarian folk songs.

Self-released in Iceland in late 2007 with an international release through FatCat Records this April it’s all instrumental, passionate and boisterous, aiming directly for gut and feet. Old is usually elegantly crossed with new, the roaring post-rock and rare, well-placed psychedelic electro bits giving the traditionals a unique, dark and unexpected twist.

One term often used when talking about music from Eastern Europe is “wedding band”. I’ve used it more than once, in part because I honestly don’t know any better and partly because it’s a description I think most people can relate to in some way. Stórsveit Nix Noltes is the Balkan band you’d have playing at your divorce…

Genre: Rock/Traditional
Who: Stórsveit Nix Noltes
Album: Royal Family – Divorce
Label: LP Útgáfa/FatCat Records
Year: 2007/2009
Country: Iceland
Language: N/A
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Recommended tracks:
Wedding Rachenitsa – Atmadja Duma Strachilu (Revolution Song) – Elenska Rachenitsa – Winding Horo