Customer Reviews

Gods Musicians

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a gorgeous album, both for its sound and lyrical content (in Swedish, if you didn't know) and for its great instrumentation. Few things could be improved at this point, and those that could are barely significant.

The album opens with Friends And Kin, Herr Manelig and Hålling fraken Makedonia, which set the tone for the album... however, every song on this CD is at least as good as those fantastic openers-- "Hilla Lilla", "Sir Holger" and especially "Guds Speleman" are some of the best. Throughout the album Garmarna combines Emma Hårdelin's great voice with guitars, keyed fiddles, and other varied instruments and fuses old and new together seamlessly. This is not my favorite Garmarna album (I prefer the trip-hop style of Vedergållningen) but it is the best overall album they have done (where every song is extraordinary, instead of only a few).

If you want to be exposed to something extremely different and incredibly enjoyable, this is probably your best bet. Enjoy!

If you've never heard before the enchanting sound of Garmarna, this is the epitome, I believe, of their genre: A postmodern interpretation of medieval melodies, rhythms, and lyrics; a perfect blend of scandinavian ballads and modern rock. --Not to mention Emma HŠrdelin's voice which is the final touch to this instrumentation. I have seen them live and Stefan Brisland-Ferner is the Jimi Hendrix of the hurdy-gurdy. The quintessential Garmarna album.

If you like something different from another part of the world--this is it. Traditional Swedish ballads with the attitude of rock! Distrubing songs of murder, wolves, and tradition along with a female singer to die for. If you like this--try other artists on the North Star label.

With sounds that can make one feel surrounded by murky troll-inhabited forests of ancient Scandinavia, "Garmarna" takes sounds one of Nordic and/or Celtic blood dreams of... It seems those serious about Celtic and other northern music often search but are usually disappointed. Rather, amongst the myriad titles touting something "Celtic" are sounds of synthesized jazz reminiscent of the original "94.7-the Wave"---synthesized, saccharine-sweet sounds. Garmarna rises far above that with haunting sounds rich with flavour and evocative power with words to match. The difference between the typical northern/Celtic music sold under New Age titles and Garmarna is like a Hallmark version of Grimm's fairy tales, and the tales as they were originally told. These songs are not for the little ones, but are for the frightened young spirit inside. Listen first to the music and words in ancient-sounding Swedish and imagine mossy places, then later go back and read the sometimes chilling words. Feel odd dance sensations come when listening to "Halling from Macedonia," and wonder if distant kith and kin in Appalachia wouldn't find this familiar.

If you're looking for rich sounds and haunting words, all bound together with an almost Wagnerian fervour, Garmarna's "Guds Spelemän" will not displease.

I haven't gotten this wrapped up in a recording since...ever. I am, in fact, learning Swedish, and Garmarna can claim some credit. They're somewhere between Gjallarhorn and Hedningarna, as far as energy is concerned. If you like Scandinavian music at all, or simply the sounds of beauty and savagery, check out all three bands.

This CD blew me away. The electric touches and hard percussion - as well as the singer's mesmerizing voice - give the whole thing a dark feel very appropriate to the lyrics. What it must sound like when you actually understand the songs as you're listening to them... sigh. If you like an energetic feel to folkish music, I highly recommend this.

I was introduced to this amazing folk / rock outfit from Sweden via their video for V?nner Och Fr?nder and I was immediately struck by their pensiveness, instrumentation, and Emma's voice.
So I bought the album and was not disappointed by all the other great material found here. Garmarna manage to take ages-old ballads and breath a new life into them without losing their feeling of ancient realms from long ago. You don't have to know Swedish, and forget all the stereotypes associated with the culture -- this is more Valhalla than ABBA. The dark brooding arrangement on V?nner Och Fr?nder conjures up visions of rhythmic Viking rowers.
Other highpoints are the rootsy Halling from Macedonia; Werewolf; and Herr Mannelig. The haunting title track is also stellar. Along with Hedningarna, Garmarna are at the top when it comes to this sort of thing. There isn't a whole lot of variety but it still works as a whole and is a great listen all the way through and worth having.

After being totally hooked by Garmarna's music with Vittrad, I decided to go for God's Musicians.. and it gives you such a feeling of energy and depth that most bands never even try for. Like one of the other reviews (I forgot which one) I am learning Swedish largely because of them. Garmarna's going to have a concert 500 feet away from my house in November and I can't wait!

In any case, Garmarna's music is cool, controlled, and energetic. You'd never guess this stuff was folk music... and the lyrics are great as well. The combination of different styles of music make the album so entrancing... all you need to enjoy this one is a pulse.

This CD is so wonderful! I love this band. Emma's voice is so beautiful.
Every since I discovered this band, I've been hooked and am actually
learning some Swedish from listening to their music.
It's amazing! Just listen and experience the music.

Garmarna es la recuperación moderna de cantos medievales nórdicos: trolls, hechizos, maldiciones,cantares lapones y asesinatos surgen de las brumas hipnóticas y los ritmos brutales. Es seco y salvaje como una saga islandesa. Es la música que Snorri Sturlusson querría para sus sagas si resucitara desde el Siglo XI.Se parece a Hedningarna, pero más primigenio, más hipnótico,más imparcial. Lo mejor del folk nórdico.El Tolkien más severo también habría querido ser musicado por ellos.