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.