Amira Medunjanin was born in Sarajevo and specialises in sevdah, the often sad and passionate folk songs of Bosnia, but with her intimate, pained and gently compelling voice, she has the emotional strength of a great blues singer. Her Amulette album, released three years ago, showed her potential to become an internationally successful performer, and with this new set she continues to expand her range, with songs from across the former Yugoslavia treated with passion and quiet power. Once again she is joined by the producer and jazz pianist Bojan Z (for Zulfikarpašić), who opens the set with an excited flurry of notes, but Amira soon dominates with her thoughtful and understated but commanding voice. She is at her best when accompanied by oud and qanun on the tragic love song Kradem Ti Se U Večeri, or by just acoustic guitar on the lament Što Te Nema. Exquisite.
