Julia Úlehla and Dálava announce new album ‘Understories’ – a continuation of their experimental journey and homage to traditional Moravian (Czech) folksong.
Their 2017 album, The Book of Transfigurations, was hailed as one of the most artistically adventurous albums of the year. Now, Dálava, the genre-defying ensemble led by vocalist Julia Úlehla with guitarist Aram Bajakian (Lou Reed, John Zorn), have announced the release of their new album Understories on the innovative New York-based record label Pi Recordings (25th April 2025).
Sung in Czech and English, the album weaves Moravian folk traditions with their own experimental and improvisational soundscapes. Many of the songs were sourced and transcribed by Úlehla’s great-grandfather from his native village over 100 years ago. Peggy Lee once again joins them on cello and, for the first time, Josh Zubot on violin.
The first two opening tracks can be heard below with the rawness of open your ear to the great below and the more subtle escape velocity demonstrating the diversity of those experimental soundscapes they’re capable of creating.
Understories (25th April 2025) Pi Recordings
Vinyl/CD: https://pirecordings.com/albums/understories/
Digital: https://pirecordings.bandcamp.com/album/understories
