Le mystère des voix bulgares : volume 1

This collection of Bulgarian folk songs, performed by The Bulgarian State Radio & Television Female Vocal Choir, was compiled by Swiss ethnomusicologist Marcel Cellier from his own field recordings and state radio archives. The album is defined by the choir's distinctive and powerful vocal performances, which utilize open-throated singing, drones, and striking dissonant harmonies rooted in traditional village music. Initially released in 1975, 'Le mystère des voix bulgares : volume 1' achieved global recognition after a 1986 reissue by the 4AD label, introducing its unique, otherworldly sound to a wide international audience and becoming a landmark in world music.