Tag Archives: Nordic music

Väsen and Hawktail in concert

OK, so I haven’t been paying close attention, but I signed on to go see Väsen and Hawktail on a damp February night in Oregon. Because I’ll pretty much always go see the contemporary Swedish roots musicians of Väsen when … Continue reading

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Liv Andrea Hauge Trio’s Ville Blomster

This trio’s first studio album opens with what could be a classical solo piano piece, a lilting parlor waltz with a hint of jazz in a couple of blue chords. But over its five minutes it slowly opens up into … Continue reading

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Marthe Lea Band’s Herlighetens Vei

Stretching jazz in different directions is a common goal of the members of the Marthe Lea Band, and this Norway-based quintet certainly does just that on its sophomore date Herlighetens Vei. With sounds and influences as wide-ranging as Ugandan and … Continue reading

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Naaljos Ljom’s 2

Cutting edge electro-acoustic Nordic folk is as close as I can come to putting the music of Naaljos Ljom in a category. But why categorize, why not just listen? “Microtonal folk music mixed with electronics and noise” is the description … Continue reading

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A year-end 2023 World Roots music omnibus review: Sigrid Moldestad’s Breim, Alba Careta and Henrio’s Càntut, Johanna Juhola’s A Brighter Future, Madera Viva Trío’s Senderos, and Los Ruphay’s The Three Seasons Of The Andes

Sigrid Moldestad’s Breim Acclaimed Norwegian singer and songwriter Sigrid Moldestad’s sixth album on Grappa, seventh overall, is something different: Breim is a deep dive into her cultural heritage. And rather than playing and singing her own songs, she focuses this … Continue reading

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Knut Kjøk and Dag Gården’s Frå Folk Te’ Folk

2L is a relatively new label from Norway started by engineer Morten Lindberg. With around a dozen releases to date, the company is off to a fine start based on the two CDs I have in my hand. The one … Continue reading

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Trond Kallevåg’s Amerikabåten

Norwegian guitarist and composer Trond Kallevåg’s Amerikabåten is one of my favorite albums of 2023 – and of this still young though momentous decade. It’s his third as a leader on Hubro, following his acclaimed 2019 debut Bedehus & Hawaii, … Continue reading

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Gangar’s Stubb, Fränder’s Fränder II, and Rüüt’s Kiriküüt

Gangar’s Stubb Norwegian metal folk-rock is one of my new favorite things, thanks to Gangar. We already previewed the first single from Stubb back in June (2023). As I said of “Sukkeri er søtt” (“Sugar is Sweet”) at the time, … Continue reading

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Vimma’s Tornadon Silmässä

A listener, especially one who doesn’t speak Finnish, could be excused for mistaking the music on Vimma’s Tornadon Silmässä for standard World music folk pop. The pretty voice of Eeva Rajakangas and the catchy, often lilting melodies of main composer … Continue reading

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The Poozies’ Changed Days, Same Roots

The Poozies include Karen Tweed (accordion, vocal), Patsy Seddon (electro-harp, Aziliz – a small Celtic harp, fiddle, vocal), Mary MacMaster (electro-harp, Aziliz, temple bells, clarsach, vocal), and Eilidh Shaw (fiddle, vocal). This recording is my introduction to the group and … Continue reading

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