Customer Reviews

Frigg

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

 

 

Frigg is a group that hails from both Finland and Norway made up of of five fiddlers ; of Alina Jarvela , Esko Jarvela ,Annti Jarvela ,and the Norwegian Brothers of Gjermund and Einar Olav Larsen to round out the fiddles and Hardanger Fiddles .To further fill in the sound of the already great Fiddles Frigg adds the Guitar and Dobro playing of Tuomas Logren ( to add the Americana Sound )and the Mandolin playing of Petri Prauda and the Double bass playing of Annti Jarvela . This is the first of three albums for Frigg , thier two later albums are clearly thier best however, Frigg does not fall short on this album , they do however experiment with the sound that they perfected on thier lastest album of "Economy Class " released in 2008 . This Self Titled Debeut , is Truly a Great Album . My favorite tunes are Metaus , Halling (which almost has an American Country Sound to it),and Egi . Why those are some of the Highlight's of the album but the Album should really be listened to start to finish .

Another Excellent CD; first heard this band on PHC in 2007(prairie home companion); great folk sound, a lot of upbeat very musical tunes. Great pick-me-up! Highly recommended for the likes of good folk music.

I really only became interested in the music of Scandinavia when I moved to Stockholm last century. Being a long-time fan of Celtic and Bluegrass fiddlers, it was not hard for me to adapt to the unique fiddle-based folk tunes of Sweden nor the modern Nordic Roots fusion of those such as Asa Jinder, Frifot, and Vasen. This music became very much a background to my experiences in Sweden, and listening to it quickly brings back the best of memories of this land of my ancestors. As I have related in a review of the album "Oasis," I only learned of Frigg five years after returning to the USA. However, I feel as if their music had been written just for me - to reflect the emotions I feel when remembering my years in that bright, beautiful land of wonder. Music is the universal language, and I believe that everyone must have an area of their psyche that Frigg can speak to. They are truly inspiring. (See my review of Frigg "Oasis.")

I listened to a few of the samples of FRIGG on Amazon.com, and I was impressed enough to buy the CD. Once I got home from the post office with it, I immediately placed in my CD player, and OMGs!!!!!!!!!!! This is TRULY a great CD. It's along the same sound of Vasen, but yet a cut above. While listening to the CD, I checked out the cover art, only to find a serpentine Rune drawing coupled with Heathen rock art. WOW!!! According to the CD, Frigg represents a combination of the "elements of Finnish and Norwegian traditions with touches of American roots music." Whatever this is, and what ever it represents, IT WORKS!!!! Vasen, who?

First of all, let me say that I am a huge fan of Scandanavian folk music, renaissance music, medieval music, etc... especially Finnish music because I am Finnish. Honestly I was expecting something a little more traditional sounding, and I was disappointed when I heard this. It's ok, but nothing really grabbed me. I think the main reason I don't like this is the lack of energy this album puts out. Some of these songs are about as exciting as a baked potato. The complete absence of almost any drums or percussion only adds to the drudgery. Furthermore, in trying to "update" the traditional folk sounds of Scandanavia, some of the songs come off sounding like American country music, which I am in no way fond of at all. I wouldn't recommend this album to people out for a traditional sound, but it's not that bad, just not what I was expecting.