Nordic Sounds
Three recently released CDs from Norway, in which tradition goes hand in hand with modern, contemporary rhythms and a modern set of instruments. On two of the albums we can hear the yoik, the traditional singing of the Sámi people, who live in the northern part of Norway, Sweden and Finland. This is also the ancestry of singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Emil Karlsen.
After his debut album Nagirvárrái, this 27-year-old Sami bard now releases an EP with five tracks called Binnát, which means something like ‘at night’. He also sings about those mysterious northern lights and his hometown Čávkkus.
Another Sami and advocate of Sámi culture is Mari Boine. After a sober acoustic album Amame, her new album Alva sparks with energy. Boine is accompanied by a band with lots of electric, amplified instruments and keyboard. She reflects on her own struggles, her youth and the path she has chosen. Singer Susanna has experience with almost any singing style, except for the yoik (though this may still happen…). This accomplished and all-round singer has released thirteen albums, all as different as night and day. Jazz, classical, pop, folk … you name it and it’s part of her repertoire. Meditations on love sounds romantic and its theme easy to guess, but there’s nothing romantic or melodramatic about it musically. You might describe it as jazz-pop, though thanks to producer Juhani Silvola, it now and then also carries some roots in its performance.
Playlist:
Emil Karlsen – Binnat – ByNorseMusic
1. Viehkkin-Erjan (Karlsen) 4:27
2. Cavkkus – Saukkonen – Oteren (Karlsen) 3:09
3. Muohta (Karlsen) 2:27
Mari Boine – Alva – By Norse Music BNM077CD
4. Dansso fal mu vahkaran (Kerttu Vuolab & Mari Boine) 5:04
5. Olamuttos letne ain (Mari Boine, Svein Schultz, Stein Austrud & Georg Buljo) 6:32
6. Varjaliv et min vuollaneames (Rauni Magga Lukkari, Mari Boine, Svein Schultz & Stein Austrud) 4:44
7. Ahkansuolu (Mari Boine & Svein Schultz) 5:27
8. Rohkos (Karen Anne Buljo, Mari Boine, Svein Schultz & Georg Buljo) 5:42
Susanna – Meditations on love – SusannaSonata.
9. Big Dreams (Susanna) 4:54
10. Leave Behind (Susanna) 3:01
11. Elephant Song (Susanna) 4:48
12. I Was Never Here (Susanna) 4:22
