Cascade Folk Trio- Old Street (Bandaz)

*** (3 Stars)

Old Street is the latest album from New York/Los Angeles based vocal ensemble Cascade Folk Trio. Produced by Bandaz, Old Street is an impressive ethno-pop approach to the now-tired genre of Armenian popular music. Boasting an army of talented musicians from Armenia such as Norayr Kartashyan (duduk/shvi), Artashes Kartalyan (piano) and Hayko (arranger), Cascade Folk Trio’s talented vocal trio has plenty to work with. Anchored by the classically trained Ohanna Mtghyan, all three singers are vocally very gifted and deliver a strong performance on this disc. The two standout tracks on Old Street, “Garden Flowers” and “Burly Boy”, blend in the accompanying musicians and trio vocals perfectly to create a sophisticated and go-for broke sound. Other songs such as “Gentle Boy, Graceful Girl” and “Where is My Love?” feature the ancient sounds of the davul/zourna and tar respectively giving Old Street an austere sound. Producer Bandaz wisely allows the group’s vocals to take center stage in this production, sidestepping temptations to overuse electronica. While Old Street is not without an occasional Rabiz moment or two, even those moments are fun and sung with vigor. On Old Street, Cascade Folk Trio achieves that rare balance of modernity and authenticity producing a fresh and lively album that best represents Armenian popular music today.