V1 Nordic Roots A Northside: Various: Amazon.ca: Music

1. 30-Year Jig - Vasen

2. Toadeater - Hedningarna

3. Imeland - Groupa

4. The Great Pie Pols - Chateau Neuf

5. Red Jacket - Swap

6. My Kantele - Loituma

7. One Day He'll Cry - Garmarna

8. Wedding March/Rowers Go Berserk - Vasen

9. Delivering The Light - Hege Rimestad

10. Foxwoman - Hedningarna

11. Weathervane - Wimme

12. Fanitullen - Tapani Varis

13. Sea Duck's Waltz - Olov Johansson

14. The Skvader - Hoven Droven

15. The Bear - Hedningarna

16. Texas - Wimme

17. The Blue Tune/The Legless Lizard - Den Fule

18. Klockar Aleksanteri - Troka

19. All The Young Men - Triakel

20. Way Down In Smaland/Swingpolska - Vasen

Product Description

From Amazon.com

In recent years, Northside Records has carved a unique niche as the American home of some of Scandinavia's finest folk and folk-rock artists. This compilation gives you 20 tracks by 15 of the brightest Northern Lights, including the Gothic, almost grind core rock of Hedningarna, winners of a Swedish Grammy for previous efforts, virtuosic fiddling and world percussion from Väsen, culture-clashing Celtic music from Swåp, a British-Swedish quartet, mutant swamp funk from Hoven Droven and the strangely compelling music of Tapani Varis's jews harp. As might be expected from people who spend half the year in frozen darkness, some of the tracks have a deeply melancholy feel, but the playing is always energetic enough to cast off a few rays of sunshine. --j. poet

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Customer Reviews

17 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

4.5 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)

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4.0 out of 5 stars This ain't ABBA..., April 10 2004

By

Wil (AL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: V1 Nordic Roots A Northside (Audio CD)

...and that's a relief. No, this is something better -- a truly unique compilation of equally unique artistes blending pre-Medieval tradition with post-modern flourishes.
I had heard of Garmarna and Hedningarna before buying this disc, but my knowledge of them was scant at best. As for the rest, I knew not a thing. But I took a chance and what a surprise. This disc touches on music that covers both ends of the spectrum: from quaint, straight ahead renditions from groups such as Chateau Neuf, Den Fule, and the instrumentally exciting Väsen, to the experimental stylings of fiddler Hege Rimestad, riff rockers Hoven Droven and the aforementioned Hedningarna.
The thing that will surprise most about this style of music is how immediate it all sounds, both foriegn and familiar at the same time. Hints of jazz and classical seem to pepper certain aspects of the arrangements of some, but the most obvious is the connection it bares to Irish folk music.
If you want a new musical experience and like what you've read here, I say take a chance on this and the other Nordic Roots compilations. From there, buy individual albums by the artists themselves, especially Hedningarna and Garmarna. (The Garmarna track here is not really representative of their newer material by the way, but still worth checking out!)

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4.0 out of 5 stars Unexpected and very cool!, May 25 2003

By

Brianna Neal (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: V1 Nordic Roots A Northside (Audio CD)

"20 tracks, 78 minutes, Cheaper than Food!" proclaimed the sticker on this CD, peeking out at me from a store's disorganized rows of miscellaneous world music discs. 'Cheaper than food?!' I thought, bewildered. 'What sort of thing is that to say about a recording? If that's the best praise anyone can offer, it doesn't bode well for the quality of the content ...' But economy and curiosity won out and I bought it anyway. What a surprise--it was great! A caption from the back of the package sums up my reaction perfectly: "An ideal introduction to the vibrant traditional music scene developing across the Nordic lands: incredible playing, catchy tunes, brilliant arrangements and strange instruments playing pre-medieval as well as modern compositions. All this music at a very special price." Neo-traditional would probably be a better description of most of the selections, as they combine the quaintness of traditional tunes and folk instruments with elements of rock, technopop, jazz, world fusion music and new age. Swedish and Sami, Finnish and Norweigan, the groups featured on "Nordic Roots" display verve and virtousity, inviting the listener to delve deeper into this fascinating genre--obviously the reason for such an inexpensive sampler. Featured artists include Vasen, Hedningarna, Garmarna, Groupa, Hoven Droven and Wimme. Despite the fact that I actually have Scandinavian roots, I'd never had any exposure to the music of that region. So this album was well worth the [money] I originally paid--a totally new musical experience. Happily, NorthSide has continued this intriguing series, further introducing and promoting their artisits in "Nordic Roots 2" and "Nordic Roots 3", both of which are also "cheaper than food". Give one a try!

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5.0 out of 5 stars Inexpensive, but excellent, Jan 4 2003

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"qibhom" (Hazel Park, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: V1 Nordic Roots A Northside (Audio CD)

This CD (along with the other Nordic Roots samplers) is the best way to find out what is going on in the Scandinavian folk world. And, a very active world it is. From electronica tinged Sami joik to traditional folk to folk rock, it is all here. It would be difficult for anyone who likes music not to find something to like here.

There aren't any liner notes to speak of, but this is one of the ways Northside keeps the costs down. Translations and original lyrics (and tour dates - I've seen 4 of the bands on this CD, and they all were wonderful live) are available at Northside's web page, and they are worth looking up.

I think I've bought a total of 8 copies of this CD, to give away to friends. They all enjoyed it, whether they normally listed to Celtic folk, industrial, rock or pop. I also bought a copy for the public library where I used to run the music collection, where it circulated well.

The only problem with this CD is that you'll probably run out and spend a bunch of money getting more CDs of Scandinavian folk.

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Published on Nov 22 2002

4.0 out of 5 stars Cheaper than food but just as satisfying
This is the first of (so far) three samplers of Scandinavian bands on the NorthSide label. NorthSide has used the catchphrase "cheaper than food" for the low(! Read more