An impressionistic boundary-stretching presentation
J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 10/29/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Playing Time - 50:07. SONGS - Loke's Troubles, Skridskolaten, Couscous, Timo's Jig, Penknife Killer, Egypt, Yew Piney Mountain, Forslund, Misch Masch, Os Pintinhos
Stouthearted musical visionaries are the types of people who are always pushing the envelope, their foresight characterized by an extraordinary ability to discern or perceive new avenues for musical expression. In this particular case, new acousticians Marshall and Anger (The Duo) combine forces with Väsen, three new-traditionalists from Sweden (Olov Johansson, Mikael Marin, Roger Tallroth). They met at the 2004 Lotus World Music Festival in Bloomington, Indiana. Each bringing their own personalities to the table, the sum is one that collaboratively takes instrumental folk and world music in new, innovative directions. Besides exhibiting technical mastery on their respective instruments (mandolin, violin, nyckelharpa, 5-string violino grande and 12-string guitar), the album's impressionistic boundary-stretching presentation is built around a foundation of interpretive melodic twists and enchanting, dynamic arrangements.
These musical colleagues chose a variety of material for their unique set. "Yew Piney Mountain" is a traditional American piece with a winsome old-time fervor. From the traditional Swedish canon, "Penknife Killer" has a quick-paced consciousness that encourages one to jump up and dance. Marshall contributes three original compositions, while the members of Väsen penned four. I'd previously heard Mike's creative cross-cultural tune "Egypt" on his "New Words Novas Palavras" release with Hamilton de Holanda (Adventure Music AM-1029-2), but this rendition of the tune is quite different. The album's closing number, "Os Pintinhos," is a melodic and joyful Brazilian choro that reinforces the concept of transcendent string music with few constraints. I sure hope to hear even more genre-bending collaborations from these string wizards in the future. In Sweden, a listener might be compelled to ask "Vad heter det dar?" (What do you call this music?) Over here in America, the simple answer ties back to the name of Marshall's record label that gives us this rewarding enterprise .... adventure music. While not so hazardous or risky in their approach, these five musicians are certainly daring and bold with their intrepid melodious statements. (Joe Ross)
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Vasen up your seat belts
Alfred Centauri | carrboro, nc United States | 01/12/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Anyone who has appreciated Marshall and Anger's past efforts, will be completely pleased with this collaboration with the Swedish group Vasen. At times hard-driving and hypnotic, some of the music reminds me of Phillip Glass. Highly recommended."
Of today, but makes me curious about yesterday
Pharoah S. Wail | Inner Space | 11/14/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Though I think the "new acoustic music" scene has been in a lull for a while now, I had to give this album a shot. I'd heard Darol speak of the Swedish stringband scene off and on over the past 5 or 6 years but I'd never searched it out for myself. When this came out, this was as good a chance as any of which I knew. This is a lovely little album. I wonder whether the Swedish tunes have been tailored to an American audience or if they naturally sound quite alot like this. Some people really do not dig music that strikes them as sounding "foreign". If you're one of those people, don't worry. You can be an "American traditionalist" (whatever that really means), and still love this album.
From the anthemic Loke's Troubles to the wintery chamber music of Skridskolaten and the snakey fiddle melody of Penknife's Killer (the one I assume is the most "Swedish-sounding melody" of the whole disc), this is a really nice little album.
Some of the tunes seem to have a section of more modern sounding stuff added to an older sounding melody... something that seems to maybe have been done just to make the music sound newer, though I don't feel it really helps them, emotionally. Feeling like I got a nice intro taste of Swedish string music here, it makes me curious to find some old field-recordings or even compilations of studio sides from the early or mid 1900s. I'd like to hear the real hardcore old Swedish mountain music before the dents were banged out of it. I'd like to hear the Dink Robertses, Clarence Ashleys, Almeda Riddles and Wade Wards of the Swedish world, whoever they were.
This is a perfectly lovely album that I've listened to quite a bit already even though I've only had it for a few weeks. Still, now I'm trying to make my star choices have more meaning. I like this but it's not one of my "5-star Desert Island Classic I'd Never Want to Live Without It" albums...nor do I think it will become one. I had good hopes for this cd, and they were mostly met. By contrast, I had extremely high hopes for The Victoriaville Tape and my hopes were blown apart, as that album is incredible beyond what I'd even hoped! Musically the 2 albums have nothing in common, but there needs to be more than 1 star of difference separating my feelings for them."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
