Alexandrov Ensemble: Red Army Choir Favourites

The latest offering from the Red Army Choir / Alexandrov has us reaching for our dancing shoes and our fur hats with pompoms on top. With classics like "Dark Eyes," "Kalinka," and "Katyusha," this album is like a one-way ticket to a Russian folk party, where the vodka flows freely and the dancing never stops. From the moment the first notes of "Kalinka" hit our ears, we were transported to a snowy village in the heart of Mother Russia, surrounded by Cossacks and bears on unicycles. The harmonies are tight, the voices are powerful, and the sheer joy of the music is infectious. But don't be fooled by the jolly façade – there's a darkness lurking beneath the surface of these seemingly frivolous folk tunes. "Dark Eyes" is a haunting lament that speaks to the pain and suffering of the Russian soul, while "Katyusha" is a bittersweet ode to lost love and broken dreams. Overall, Red Army Choir Favourites is a toe-tapping, tear-jerking masterpiece that will have you singing along in broken Russian before you know it. So grab your ushanka and prepare to be transported to a world where the vodka flows like water and the balalaikas never stop playing. Na zdorovie!