Album Review: Untitled by Lepa Lukić – A Folk Gem That’ll Make You Want to Dance (and Maybe Cry a Little)
Alright, let’s talk about this hidden treasure from Bulgaria. Lepa Lukić’s Untitled album is like that quirky friend who shows up uninvited but ends up being the life of the party. It’s folk music with soul—no frills, no overproduced nonsense, just raw emotion wrapped in melodies that feel older than your grandma’s secret pickle recipe. Released under Балкантон and conducted by Христо Тодоров, this record feels like it was brewed in a village tavern where everyone knows each other’s business.
Now, onto the tracks. First up, we’ve got "Киша Роси Ситна Ситница" (which roughly translates to something poetic about rain or dew—I’m not fluent, sue me). This song hits you right in the feels. The melody builds slowly, almost shyly, before bursting into this triumphant wave of strings and vocals that make you wanna grab someone’s hand and spin them around the room. It’s haunting yet uplifting, kinda like when you’re crying at a wedding because love is beautiful but also terrifying.
Then there’s "Све Вехара И Све Цвета", which sounds like springtime bottled up and poured straight into your ears. If flowers could sing, this would be their anthem. There’s an innocence to it, like watching kids chase butterflies in a field while old folks sip rakija on a bench nearby. I can’t get enough of how simple yet powerful the arrangement is—it doesn’t need flashy tricks; it lets the instruments do all the talking. And trust me, they’ve got plenty to say.
What makes this album stick? Well, for starters, it doesn’t try too hard. In today’s world of auto-tune and EDM drops louder than a toddler throwing a tantrum, Untitled feels refreshingly real. It’s not perfect—it’s human. You can practically hear the creaky wooden floors and clinking glasses in the background as these songs were recorded.
And here’s the kicker: listening to this album made me realize how much we take traditional music for granted. These tunes have been passed down through generations, surviving wars, dictatorships, and probably some really awkward family reunions. They’re alive, man. Alive! So next time you’re stuck scrolling TikTok for hours, maybe throw on Untitled instead. Who knows? You might just find yourself dancing barefoot in your kitchen, spilling wine everywhere, and wondering why modern pop stars don’t write songs about dew anymore.
Final verdict? 8/10. Not because it’s flawed, but because now I need to learn Bulgarian so I can fully appreciate what Lepa Lukić is singing about. Also, I kinda wish she’d drop a remix version with a DJ. Call me crazy, but I bet "Све Вехара И Све Цвета" would slap with a bassline.
