December 1, 2009, I had the pleasure to both hear the singing duet, AE, and buy their debut CD entitled AE at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz. Their music is a wonderful mixing old styles of world music to a new pluralistic style in, what some may say, a post-modern way. They primarily perform a cappella with occasional accompaniment on the accordion and the Georgian panduri.

Their beautiful singing, both live and excellently captured on the CD, brings together a deep knowledge of diverse vocal traditions. Together, they create new music from old very diverse traditions. I am fascinated how their music manifests their knowledge and deeper understanding cultivated through their ethnomusicology studies to a professional singing career. All the while, they are addressing sensitive sociological issues of culture and traditions while inspiring the listener FEEL.

Also, I find their name AE wonderfully appropriate on many levels. AE is a Celtic rune is that joins the sounds A and E together, officially pronounced “ash”, to mean a dual nature–not singular, not plural, but exactly two. This represents their names, Aurelia and Eva, as well as their music that blends cultures (American Appalachia, Bulgarian and/or Georgian) while honoring the old.

If you like a cappella singing that makes your heart swell, you will love this CD.
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While there is nothing like seeing and hearing this duo live (they made me cry the first time) this mix does them justice.  The Appalachian music is what brought me in, the familiarity of old-country songs and the wondrous nature of the "twang-howl" but it introduced me to Georgian music.  Even though I don't understand the languages of many of the songs I can still feel the way their voices go together and the emotions behind the songs.
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I was lucky enough to catch these two live recently. Their sparse but complex arrangements of traditional material range from the sweet to the hair-lifting.  The album rewards multiple playings - indeed, it took up semi-permanent residence in my car CD player for almost a month. I highly recommend it, and would add that you should go see them live if you get the chance. I look forward to more from these ladies...
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I purchased 2 of these, without even listening to the examples because I am familiar of the singing of these two artists and would shamelessly buy anything they produce.  I played 2 tracks on my show recently and got several calls asking about how to get the music.  This duet is not trying to sound like field recordings but, through their own personalities, still show vast respect for, and knowledge of the traditions the songs come from.  the synthesis of styles on some tracks (e.g. Appalachian and bulgarian) is enlightening..
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