NESP Reviews
by
Annbjørg Lien
(Music CD)
Review by Alfta Svanni Lothursdottir
1. Loki
2. Iriandia
3. Astra
4. Ája
5. Baba Yaga
6. Old Larry
7. January
8. Ritual
9. Inoque
10. Wackidoo
11. W.
"Behind every traditional hardanger fiddle tune there is always a story, always a fairy tale, and you actually tell the stories when you play the fiddle."
- Annbjørg Lien
One of the brightest and, in my opinion, best sounds in the Nordic roots music movement is Annbjørg Lien. She is a musician and vocalist who plays the Hardanger Fiddle. The Hardanger Fiddle in her hands is beautiful and heart-breaking at the same time. Her music is a perfect mixture of Scandinavian folk music and more modern elements, including influences from Irish, Middle-Eastern and Electronic music. I do not believe I could pick one song on this album as my favorite. There are too many that are just too good. The album starts out with a tribute to the “Friend of the Aesir,” Loki. Equally as haunting as her fiddle are her vocals on this track. Track 3, “Astra” is easily among the best of the album and is perhaps the best example of the melancholy beauty she is able to evoke. Although many of her tracks have a very haunting quality to them there are more upbeat tracks like the infectious “Wackidoo.” Despite the price for this CD being in the upper range for what most CD's sell for, at $16.00, it is well worth the money in my opinion.
At Northsides web site (http://www.noside.com/) you can find this CD along with many others.
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