Vintermane, Vintermane (2L3, 2002)
Flukt, Spill (2L8, 2002)
Biruta Ozolina, Sirdsgriezi (UPE Records, 2002)
Alwa, Alwa (Amigo Musik AB, 2002)

Here's a foursome of Nordic groups. I'll start out by remarking that these artists make great use of the cardboard CD jacket. This packaging practice reduces the demand for the products of oil fields for plastic. As these artists demonstrate, the format allows for some compelling and attractive artwork.

Vintermane is based around the trio of Anne Gravir Klykken's vocals, Torjus Vierli's versatile keyboards, and Frøydis Grorud's saxophone. They promote the Pro-Nordic cause by not including one work of English in their liner notes or Web site.

Vintermane is a piece of Jazz Lite work. There is not a whole lot of rhythmic variation from beginning to end. It's the kind of CD you'd play in your car to soothe your nerves while waiting for the road crew to clear out the twenty-car pile-up on the icy highway ahead of you. What saves the project from totally trancing out is the high quality of musical composition throughout. One final comment: You'll really, really, really have to like Kenny G to make it through major segments of this album.

Flukt's Spill is a bit more versatile in its sounds. The core group consists of Norwegian musicians with impressive backgrounds in festival, concert, university, theatrical, and studio venues. They are Sturla Eide Sundli on fiddle and Hardanger fiddle, Øivind Farmen on accordion, and Sondre Meisfjord on double bass. Joining in are Heidi Skjerve on vocals and Erlend Skomsvoll on harmonium.

Flukt means "soaring," an apt description for the group's approach to its material. They bring imagination and spontaneity to their repertoire of Scandinavian, Gaelic, religious, and original songs. Pick this one up to hear what kind of depth and aplomb can come from a trio of music makers.

For the next album, we cross the Baltic over to Latvia for a surprising CD from Biruta Ozolina, Sirdsgriezi or "Heart Solstice." Biruta penned this one and also provides lead vocals, keyboards, and kokle. She's accompanied by Arnis Roze (bass, contrabass), Talis Gzibovskis (percussion), Marija Golubova (backing vocals), Davis Ozolins (cello), and Maris Muktupavels (kokle).

Sirdsgriezi sounds like a regional epic-poem. The story is that of a young girl who is coerced into marrying someone she does not love. Sarcastically enough, the CD cover depicts a blue-tinged black and white photo of an iron bed frame.

Biruta's lyrical and musical narrative techniques easily cross the language barrier. However, those of us who speak English and not Latvian are treated to a comely translation of the lyrics by Inguna Jansone. Here's a sample: "Dear brothers, build me a home with three doors! One will be for the sun to rise, the other will be for the sun to set, and the third will be for myself to go out with a beautiful myrtle wreath on my head."

The poignancy of the tale is underscored by some fascinating musical compositions, many of which call to mind the very earliest Genesis. Like a good epic work, the continuity has variations and there are a few surprises. Some fine instrumental segments are to be found in the interludes. One transition is marked by an ancient Greek tragedy-style chorus combined with Egyptian chanting. This is one charming CD that does major credit to Latvia's UPE record label.

Rounding out this review's quartet is the self-titled release Alwa, who are Anna Elwing (vocals and violin), Jonas Goransson (guitar, and how!) Karin Ohlsson (violin and viola), Tina Quartey (percussion), and Torbjorn Righard (saxophones and flutes, and double how!). Alwa plays traditional and original Nordic compositions with a rare blend of acoustic, electronic, and soulful jazz elements.

I've listened to this album dozens of times, and each time it convinces me I'm in a field near a far-off northern forest at the peak of summertime. Tempos range from gentle zephyr material to staccato intensities presaging a thunderstorm. The tunes pass through simple melodic lines to well-conceived and executed jams. Jonas' guitar work is based on simple yet extremely imaginative riffs, a very difficult thing to achieve. Torbjorn's sax and flute and the violins grace the foundation of guitar and percussion. Overlaid on all this come Anna's vocals, which carry the power of the very Nordic winds themselves.

For further information about the respective bands
and other artists on their labels: Flukt; Biruta Ozolina; and Alwa.