Customer Reviews

Aliens Alive

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Being from the States, I had not heard of Annbjorg Lien. Her talents on the hardanger and keyed fiddle are extraodinary. This particular CD brings her with a great group of musicians,who add rhythm,talent,and even so humor to the equation. I believe this is a must have CD for anyone who loves music that takes you to another place and soothes your weary soul! She reminds me a bit of Annie Haslam, from her first solo release "Annie in Wonderland", when Annie was singing with the band, Renaissance. This music has the same feel to it!

Annbjorg's most interesting CD to date. Includes fresh versions of some of her best studio work. The fourteen-minute track, "Origins (Tidr / Nordfjordhalling / Oainnahus / Homage / Phoenix)" is epic in breadth and includes some very interesting vocal work. The music in general seems more evocative of the intended moods than does her studio work, and that's saying something. "Astra" is another gem, a bit of abstraction that suggests a film track. As a reviewer on the North Side website put it, "At times, it sounds like something Dead Can Dance might have produced." Indeed. "Aliens Alive" is a kind of "best of" live, with some new new tunes thrown in. Even the familiar tracks, however, will surprise those who have listened to Annbjorg's music for many years. Also be sure to check out her previous CD, "Baba Yaga." These Norwegians can be very interesting.

A fantastic live recording. Lien keeps the melodic fire of tunes like "Old Larry" and "Wackidoo" (here the opening of the title track) white-hot while substantially improving both songs, twisting the former into something longer and more interesting than the original and dispensing with the noodling prog-rock flourishes that marred the studio version of the latter.

Rasch is the other standout talent here, although all the musicians form an organic, sympathetic collaboration for this wonderful violinist.

I am an enthusiastic "Lienista" and own a number of her recordings, but this struck me as a lukewarm rehash of her studio work. I found very little new, performing live didn't seem to spark anyone to daring musicianship or creativity, and the recording's miking/ambience gave me the feeling the audience was barely there and barely awake for the most part. In all, I found it dutiful and "workmanlike." Skip this one and grab up Baba Yaga, Stone Chair (AL playing as part of Bukkene Bruse), and Prisme -- real Nordic soul music! (This one goes to the used CD store down the street.)