The best point of reference for this record is Anouar Brahem, on his ECM discs. This is a disc of gorgeous, solemn folksongs, heavily dependent on accordion. The ECM style is strong here; the compositions are engineered to perfection so that silence pervades the music, and they move slowly, often ending unexpectedly in mid-play. A sense of peace pervades this. I do not find a great deal of difference between the songs, in terms of compositional strategy, but they are played to perfection. Clearly, the starting point for this music is Danish and other Scandinavian countries indigenous folk music. But over the top of this, the band adds in elements of both Balkan and Klezmer music, and I suspect that in concert this must be a heady experience. On the band's website, musicians list a wide variety of influences, from classical music, to Tom Waits, Beefheart, Beatles, Astor Piazolla and Nirvana, but you would never know it from the music. This is a very good disc, and well worth purchasing.
Track Listing
- Lux
- Kostbar
- H + stvisa I
- Sptum Turbido (H + stvisa II)
- Obscare
- Waldhotel Solitaire
- Paxima
- Comma
- Atumnus Elegia
- Missa Tripus
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