Tag Archives: Nordic music

Okra Playground’s Itku

Itku is an exciting new album by the Finnish folk pop group Okra Playground. Their third full-length, following their 2015 debut Turmio and 2018’s Ääneni yli vesien, it was released in late 2022. The three powerful singing women of Okra … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Okra Playground’s Itku

 Maria Kalaniemi and Aldergaz’s Ahma

Accordion fans, take note! This one’s for you. Accordionist Maria Kalaniemi and Aldergaz play some fine tunes on this album. It seems effortlessly delivered and should be a welcome acquisition fans of the squeeze box. All others, well … I … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on  Maria Kalaniemi and Aldergaz’s Ahma

Færd’s Færd, Harv’s Töst!, Spælimenninir’s Spælimenninir Í Hoydølum, Rekavidur – Hinvegin, and Umaftur, and Bukkene Bruse’s The Loveliest Rose

You’ll likely remember Karen Tweed (accordion) and Ian Carr (guitar) from Swåp, but both of ’em also played in Northumbrian piper Kathryn Tickell’s band, as well as more projects than one should attempt to remember! I’d expect anything that they … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Færd’s Færd, Harv’s Töst!, Spælimenninir’s Spælimenninir Í Hoydølum, Rekavidur – Hinvegin, and Umaftur, and Bukkene Bruse’s The Loveliest Rose

Gangar’s Tre Danser EP

If you’ve been wishing for some heavy metal arrangements of Nordic folk tunes, St. Nicholas has heard you and answered with this fresh new recording. Tre Danser is the first release from the Norwegian folk-rockers Gangar, a brief three-song EP … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Gangar’s Tre Danser EP

Lena Willemark’s När som gräset det vajar, Ale Möller Band’s Bodjal, and Maria Kalaniemi Trio’s Tokyo Concert

I’ve seen Lena Willemark play with Frifot more times than I can remember. Frifot is Willemark on voice and fiddle, Per Gudmundson on fiddle and bagpipe, and Ale Möller on mandola, hammered dulcimer, and flutes. Their music is some of … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Lena Willemark’s När som gräset det vajar, Ale Möller Band’s Bodjal, and Maria Kalaniemi Trio’s Tokyo Concert

Trygve Seim and Andreas Utnem’s Christmas Songs

If you’re up for a new jazz-inflected holiday album, Trygve Seim and Andreas Utnem’s Christmas Songs might just do the trick. Especially if you look fondly upon George Winston’s breakthrough album December. Not that it’s very much like that multi-platinum … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Trygve Seim and Andreas Utnem’s Christmas Songs

Uusikuu’s Karuselli

Life seems very serious these days, and a lot of music is very serious, too. But sometimes it’s good to dive into some music that’s just fun, and that’s what the Nordic ensemble Uusikuu is handing out on a cake … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Uusikuu’s Karuselli

Lodestar Trio’s Bach to Folk

These days I particularly enjoy music that combines roots or folk music with other traditions including jazz and classical. The musicians of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland seem particularly adept at this sort of thing: Norwegian guitarist Jakob Bro, the … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Lodestar Trio’s Bach to Folk

Enkel’s Love Hurts

The third studio album by Finland’s folk quartet Enkel is an altogether enjoyable affair. Enkel is Finnish for angel, and Leija Lautamaja, Miia Palomäki, Maija Pokela, and Iida Savolainen indeed sing like angels, sometimes solo or in duet, sometimes all … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Enkel’s Love Hurts

Erlend Apneseth’s Nova

I’m usually not a huge fan of strictly solo instrumental albums, but I can easily overlook that rule of thumb for Erlend Apneseth’s Nova. It’s hard to overstate just how much I enjoy this record. Some of that is simply … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Erlend Apneseth’s Nova