Customer Reviews

Grimborg

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

 

 

I moderately liked this group's previous album Sjofn.

This one blows it away.

All but two tracks are based on traditonal Swedish folk tunes and folk lyrics, presented in sophisticated but folk-rooted world fusion arrangements

Jenny Wilhelms vocals are excellent, with wonderful microtonal ornamentation, but are far surpassed by the amazing background instrumentals and the all-instrumental tracks.

The instruments include Australian didgeridoo for drone, fiddle, viola, and an eclectic mixture of other instruments.

The sound is firmly stated, but never soaring because it doesn't need to soar. Instead we hear rocking and rolling waves of sound in different rhythms, often overlapping.

It is like a mixture of Yo Yo Ma with Mark O'Connor, some of Loreena McKennitt, Kronos Quartet, some of Shiela Chandra, Mychael Danna's romantic mimimalism, Sigur Rós, some of Bulgarian voices, some of Huun-Huur-Tu, some ambient music.

On the second-last track, "Kuling - Cow-calling", Wilhelm uses her voice purely as in instrument with shrill, keening, wordless cries playing against and around muttering and thrumming strings in an astounding, untethered, free composition.

This disc continues to demonstrate Gjallarhorn's fine musicianship and their ability to play traditional Nordic music with flair and a bit of a twist. This disc may be a bit more traditional than their previous releases, and a bit more spare than I'd prefer. Those seeking exciting music might look to their first release, Sjofn. This one is more minimalist, which may appeal to many fans of Nordic music, but it's not quite what I was hoping for.

I have been a fan of Gjallarhorn for years, ever since I bought their album "Sjofn".
So recently I managed to find a copy of "Grimborg" through an Amazon store, and expected it to be equal to "Sjofn".

Well, it is good - but it does show some influences from classical chamber music which I feel is a bit misplaced here. Also, there is sometimes a bit too many instruments playing at the same time, IMHO. I prefer the more "raw" ancient feeling.

Still, it has as always the gorgeous voice of the band leader -- Jenny Wilhelms.

Besides "Sjofn" I also very strongly recommend their earlier album "Ranarop".

Review by Chris Nickson:
There's nothing like the pleasure one can get from hearing a band take a quantum leap in its development, and with the very purplish Grimborg (just look at the cover), Gjallarhorn has made theirs. It becomes fully apparent on the title cut, when wild cello undercuts the spooky song, bringing it almost into the avant-garde. Moments like that crop up again in different guises throughout the record, on tracks like "Ack Lova Gud" and "Frøysnesen/Soteroen," although the place to truly turn heads is when singer Jenny Wilhelms unleashes piercing shrieks during the literal cattle call of "Kulning." Overall the record is like a sea serpent, with many tentacles moving around and catching the listener by surprise, dragging them into the music with snatches of didgeridoo, Hardanger fiddle, bass clarinet, and percussion. It's far less ordered than their previous releases, deliberately edging toward chaos at times, but never quite falling over. But the sense of adventure and progression never falters; it's as if the band has finally discovered its musical niche and is set upon exploring every corner of it. There's a joy in every note and beat that transmits itself. A career-defining disc.

This CD was disappointing in that the lyrics were indistinguishable and slurred, and the music was sort of screechy!