Swåp - Mosquito Hunter

Swåp - Mosquito Hunter (2001)

"Two Swedes and two Brits; two men and two women; two Nordic folk fiddlers and two traditional Celtic musicians. This is Swåp: the inevitable confluence of two distinct but related musical cultures. Their music moves effortlessly from Swedish polska to Irish jig, from Swedish “vals” to British waltz, with swinging arrangements, memorable original compositions, grace, respect and passion." (Last.fm)

01 | Jigs: Kesh Jig / The Baroon / The Meersbrook

02 | Anton
03 | Staffanvisa från Leksand / Only Viveka
04 | Master Crowley's / A Packet a Year / Binsjö Reel
05 | I'm Not Fed Up with the Pacific Ocean
06 | Creme Fraiche
07 | Fiskmås
08 | Mosquito Hunter
09 | Sukiyaki Reel / Sukiyaki Song
10 | This Is My Pen
11 | Ms. DK
12 | Old Hales
13 | The Dusty Miller / Three Ravens / Solåten

Availability: Out of print in the U.S.  Used copies of the Japanese release occasionally available.

Wimme - Mun

Wimme - Mun (2009)

Wimme Saari (also known as just Wimme) is one of the best known Sami yoik singers from Scandinavia. Wimme Saari combines traditional Sami singing with his own improvisations, usually to a acoustic-techno-ambient accompaniment by WIMME group Wimme. Wimme has also appeared on the albums of other bands, for instance Hedningarna.  (Last.fm)

01 | Soahkesuovva (Birch Smoke)
02 | In mun du (It's Not You)
03 | Ruovdi (Iron)
04 | Don leat (You Are)
05 | Paris
06 | Máššu (Calm)
07 | Sohka (Family)
08 | Lottit (Birds)
09 | Ale (Don't)
10 | Iditguovssu (Dawn)
11 | Áiti (Storehouse)

Availability: Available used or in MP3 format in the U.S.

Wimme - Bárru

Wimme - Bárru (2003)

Wimme Saari (also known as just Wimme) is one of the best known Sami yoik singers from Scandinavia. Wimme Saari combines traditional Sami singing with his own improvisations, usually to a acoustic-techno-ambient accompaniment by WIMME group Wimme. Wimme has also appeared on the albums of other bands, for instance Hedningarna.  (Last.fm)

01 | Njavvi (Torrent)
02 | Inka
03 | Gorzi (Waterfall)
04 | Suhpi (Aspen)
05 | Fádnu
06 | Goalki (Calm)
07 | Cearret (Arctic Tern)
08 | Kalkutta
09 | Guoldu (Whirling Snow)
10 | Boares Rieban (Old Fox)
11 | Bárru (Wave)
12 | Durban
13 | Dálki (Tempest)

Availability: Available in MP3 format in the U.S.

Wimme - Cugu

Wimme - Cugu (2000)

Wimme Saari (also known as just Wimme) is one of the best known Sami yoik singers from Scandinavia. Wimme Saari combines traditional Sami singing with his own improvisations, usually to a acoustic-techno-ambient accompaniment by WIMME group Wimme. Wimme has also appeared on the albums of other bands, for instance Hedningarna.  (Last.fm)

01 | Eallima Bárut (Waves of Life)
02 | Silbabiedju (Silver Cave)
03 | Cugu (Puppy)
04 | Nággu (Argument)
05 | Mii Leat (We Are)
06 | Texas
07 | Dierpmesbákti (The Rock of the Thunder God)
08 | Bambumiehta (Bamboo Honey)
09 | Baksamat (Lips)
10 | Suoldnit (Dew)
11 | Rehálas (Honest)
12 | Agálas Johtin (The Eternal Journey)

Availability: Out of print in the U.S., but available in MP3 format.

Sanna Kurki-Suonio - Huria

Sanna Kurki-Suonio - Huria (2008)

Born in 1966, Sanna Kurki-Suonio is a Finnish singer, kantele player and composer in the contemporary folk music genre. She is probably most well-known for her work with the band Hedningarna. She was also a founding member of the group Loituma. (Last.fm)



01 | Haudankaivaja / The Gravedigger
02 | Huria / Reckless
03 | Tyttö Kulkija / The Vagabond Girl
04 | Mun Muistuu Mieleheni / Reminescence
05 | Matkalla / On The Road
06 | Metsälampi / The Forest Pond
07 | Nousin / I Woke Up
08 | Vanhanpiian Valitus / The Old Maid's Lament
09 | Yksi Tähti Taivaalla / A Star In The Sky
10 | Tällä Laululla / With This Song
11 | Eron Hetki / Bidding Farewell
12 | Viitalahti
13 | Iltalaulu / An Evening Song

Availability: Available in CD and MP3 format in the U.S.

Annbjørg Lien - Waltz with Me

Annbjørg Lien - Waltz with Me (2007)

"A heavyweight in the Norwegian folk music scene, Annbjørg Lien is an accomplished Hardanger fiddle player. The beauty of her music, combined with her international flexibility (evidenced by collaborations such as Tears of Stone with The Chieftains or the main theme from the soundtrack of the film Fargo), has meant she now enjoys world-wide popularity.

She’s also a member of the Norwegian folk band Bukkene Bruse and the international ensemble String Sisters."  (Last.fm)

01 | Riv rav ruskande (The Traveller)
02 | Sula Mountain
03 | Fela (The Fiddle)
04 | Home East
05 | Masques
06 | Waltz With Me
07 | Walking Strings
08 | Dansande ut alle år (Dancing the Years All Away)
09 | The Old Car
10 | Mother and a Son

Availability: Available on CD or in MP3 format in the U.S.

Väsen - Essence

Väsen - Essence (1993)

"Heavyweights in the nordic folk music scene, Väsen are a Swedish group combining the talents of Olov Johansson (nyckelharpa), Mikael Marin (viola), Roger Tallroth (guitar) and André Ferrari (percussion). The band has also released a number of albums as a trio without Ferrari." (Last.fm)

For those of you who have heard Väsen's album with Mike Marshall and Darol Anger, track 12 may sound familiar... for those of you who have not, I may put that up next.  :)

01 | Hellstedts gamla brudmarsch
02 | Flodens död
03 | Rådmansvalsen
04 | Idas farväl
05 | Amanda
06 | Trollpåsen
07 | Spelmansglädje
08 | Polska efter Wesslén
09 | Långt ner i Småland
10 | Isbrytaren
11 | Josefins dopvals
12 | Pennknivsmördaren
13 | Urgammal vals
14 | Åkerbystålet
15 | Sugghugg
16 | Vals efter Gustaf Strutz
17 | Knuss-Olles livstycke
18 | Tulle Lulla Lova
19 | Isbrytarvalsen
20 | Branten
21 | Forslund

Availability: Out of print in the U.S., no MP3 available.

Hedningarna - Karelia Visa

Hedningarna - Karelia Visa (1999)

"Hedningarna is a Swedish band, playing Nordic folk-rock.  'Hedningarna' is Swedish for 'the pagans' or 'the heathens'. They combine traditional instrumentation and lyrics - with occasional help from Finnish singers - and modern technology.  Current Hedningarna members are Hållbus Totte Mattson (lute, hurdy-gurdy, mandora, mora-oud, etc), Anders Norrudde (violin, hardingfela, moraharp, basmoraharp, stringed harp, swedish bagpipe, willowflute, cow- and goathorn), Magnus Stinnerbom (viola, hurdy-gurdy etc) and Christian Svensson (percussion and sampler)." (Last.fm)

01 | Veli (Brother)
02 | Mitä Minä (What Do I Sing)
03 | Alkusanat (The Beginning Words)
04 | Neidon Laullu (The Song of a Maiden)
05 | Ukkonen (Thunder God)
06 | Metsän Tyttö (Forest Maiden)
07 | Ståpäls
08 | Viima (Cold Wind)
09 | Heila (True Love)
10 | Vispolska (Song Polska)

Availability: Out of print in the US.  Physical CD available used on Amazon.  MP3 available.

Svanevit - Rikedom och gåvor

Svanevit - Rikedom och gåvor (2008)

"The tale of the Swedish folk music group Svanevit takes place in the here and now. It begins with four eminent Swedish folk musicians and their music. What they create is both new and modern and at the same time retrospective, drawing inspiration from the past. Each and every element of the music is filled with an anticipation and narrative zest that allows the tale to continue giving the sounds, magic and legends a chance to live on in our time." (Last.fm)

01 | Rikedom och gåvor
02 | Billinge
03 | När jag om morgonen
04 | Kardborren
05 | Lördagsafton
06 | Jubileumspolska
07 | Jungfrun och näcken
08 | Åleätarns vals
09 | Allt vad vi på jorden äga
10 | Enningers finaste
11 | Upp min tunga
12 | Bellmans vals
13 | Brist hjärta i stycken
14 | När som elden
15 | Tranan

Availability: Physical CD not in print in the U.S., but available new from Amazon nonetheless.  Also available in MP3.

Den Fule - Skalv

Den Fule - Skalv (1995)

"Den Fule (meaning “The ugly one”) was formed primarily from veterans of the 1970s Swedish folk rock scene. The band produced two albums through Xource Records in the early 1990s then disbanded. Their first album Lugumleik met with immediate critical acclaim and won the Swedish Grammy for “Best Folk Music Album of the Year 1993”. The album was described for the Swedish Grammy awards as a blend of jazz, rock, funk and traditional folk music." (Last.fm)

01 | Skalv
02 | Snäll
03 | Skägget
04 | Fly Med Mig
05 | Gammel-Husin
06 | Den Blå Slåtten - Ormslå
07 | Det Är Jag
08 | Munnharpevals
09 | Offerklippans Sång
10 | Koptespakte
11 | Jägaren och Älgen
12 | Rammeslåtten
13 | Pakt
14 | Storebackepolskan
15 | Vinge

Availability: Out of print in the U.S., but available used on Amazon.  No MP3 available.

Swåp - Du Da

Swåp - Du Da (2005)

"Two Swedes and two Brits; two men and two women; two Nordic folk fiddlers and two traditional Celtic musicians. This is Swåp: the inevitable confluence of two distinct but related musical cultures. Their music moves effortlessly from Swedish polska to Irish jig, from Swedish “vals” to British waltz, with swinging arrangements, memorable original compositions, grace, respect and passion." (Last.fm)

01 | Dalpilen
02 | Fattig Änka
03 | Ian's Jävla Jig / Ian's Jävla Polska
04 | Blind Mattis Leken
05 | Midsommarvisa / Olas Nya Hus
06 | Kronbron
07 | Mäster Åslund
08 | Så Rider Jag Mej
09 | Brudpolska från Orsa efter Minu Per
10 | Ore Polska
11 | Se på TV
12 | Perrong Plask

Availability: Physical copy is out of print in the US, although it can be found cheap on Amazon.  MP3 available.

Sequentia - The Rheingold Curse

Sequentia - The Rheingold Curse (2002)

"Sequentia is an early music ensemble, started in 1977 by Benjamin Bagby and the late Barbara Thornton. The group specializes mainly in Medieval music. Sequentia focuses particularly on music with texts, specifically chants and other stories with music, such as the Icelandic Edda. They are interested in the interplay between drama and music, and sometimes do partially staged performances, such as that of Hildegard of Bingen’s Ordo Virtutum. Bagby and Thornton have both been active in original research on the projects they perform.

Originally based in Cologne, Germany, the group has recently moved to Paris.

The only long-term members of Sequentia seem to be Benjamin Bagby, Barbara Thornton before her death, and Katarina Livljanic. The rest of the members are hired according to the needs of the particular project.

They mainly record on the Deutsche Harmonia Mundi Label." (Last.fm)

Disc 1
01 | Hlióðs bið ec allar kindir (Voluspá I)
02 | Óðinn oc Hœnir oc Loki hofðo komit til Andvarafors (Reginsmál)
03 | Sveinn oc sveinn, hveriom ertu sveini um borinn? (Fáfnismál)
04 | Hvat beit brynio, hví bra ec svefni? (Sigrdrífomál)
05 | Instrumental interlude
05 | Ár var, þatz Sigurðr sótti Giúca (Sigurðarkviða in scamma I)



Disc 2
01 | Guðrúnarkviða in Fyrsta (The First Lay of Gudrun)
02 | Sigurðarkviða in scamma II (A Short Poem About Sigurd, part 2)
03 | Guðrúnarkviða onnor (The Second Lay of Gudrun)
04 | Atlakviða (The Lay of Atli)
05 | Voluspá II (The Prophecy of the Seeress, part 2)

Availability: It took me years to find this CD at an affordable price.  Currently there exists at least one used copy on Amazon for approximately $35 (and at least one copy for $170).  No MP3 available.

JPP - History

JPP - History (1999)

"JPP Järvelän pikkupelimannit (“Little Folk Musicians of Järvelä”) formed in 1982 in the fiddling capital of Finland (and perhaps the world), Kaustinen. Born from the fiddling tradition of the Järvelä family, in Järvelä village in Kaustinen, JPP’s musical roots go back to the 19th century. Their initial spark came from the local and national folk music boom in the 60s, particularly the phenomenal national success of Kaustinen fiddler/composer Konsta Jylhä, and their distinctive skills at composing and arranging immediately emerged, forming the basis for their style, appeal and future career.

JPP members have experience and training in musical genres outside folk music, for example classical and jazz, therefore expanding the scope of their music far wider than ordinary fiddle groups. In effect, JPP have created a style all their own, one that is impossible to categorize easily and one which continuously surprises." (Last.fm)

01 | Hoppavalssi (Jump Waltz)
02 | Tjöck
03 | Lönnruutin Katrilli
04 | Mazurka
05 | I've Found a New Baby
06 | Karjalan Yleiskatrilli (Common Quadrille Of Karelia)
07 | Yö Saaristossa (A Night In The Archipelago)
08 | Ellun Sotiisi (Ellu's Schottische)
09 | Laitisen Mankeliska (For Laitinen's Mangle)
10 | Kruunupyyn Katrilli (Kruunupyy Qudrille)
11 | Hokanen Savusaunassa (Hokkanen in the Smoke Sauna_
12 | Vanha Paimenen Soitto (Old Shepherd's Tune)
13 | Riippusillan Hambo (Riippu Bridge Hambo)
14 | Kaustinen Rhapsody
15 | Marssi Amerikkalaisesta Nuottikirjasta (March From American Sheet Music Book)
16 | Lampaan Polska (Lamb's Polska)
17 | Irish Coffee
18 | Koskirannan Kiperä (A Tough One From Koskiranta)
19 | Siltatanssit-Tango (Bridge Dances Tango)
20 | Kalmari Special
21 | Valvotun Yön Valssi (Sleepless Night)
22 | Puikkoristikko (Cross of Sticks)

Availability: Available used or in MP3 format in the U.S.