Morning Star

Ranarim | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 30, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Northside Records
• ASIN: B000LXSSZ0
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #337,669 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This Swedish neo-folk sextet is nothing short of astonishing, both vocally and instrumentally. Their use of modal tunings, moody yet feisty acoustic arrangements and dual female close harmony singing evokes recollections of seventies-era folk-rockers from Britain (Pentangle, Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span), France (Malicorne), and Ireland (Clannad). But as decades have elapsed since these bands first appeared, the present group’s work would hardly be worthy of interest if it were not also fearlessly, fervently inventive. Although completely acoustic, the mix incorporates everything from light touches of Scandinavian techno to hazily skewed harmonic references to Abba. A dusky nyckelharpa (keyed fiddle) abuts plucked strings, a stand-up bass and always, those witchy, sweet-sour voices, telling tales of shifting seasonal duties, lovers true or false, the all-encompassing sea and seemingly conscienceless vagaries of nature and fate. Why Northern European styles have not yet caught on more strongly with Celtic music fans is a complete mystery -- not only do they echo one another in tantalizing ways but, as many Irish ethnomusicologists have already confirmed, are demonstrably related to one another from afar. In any case, listeners jonesing for a latter-day smorgesbord of richly varied, forward-looking authenticity might launch their explorations with this fascinating album. --Christina Roden

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Swedish take on British Folk Rock?, May 5, 2009

By 

David A. Knighting - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Morning Star (Audio CD)

If you are a big fan of the British Folk Rock or Electric Folk Rock music of the 1960s and 1970s you will love this album. The music is "softer" than Fairport Convention, Pentangle, or Steeleye Span. But it isn't folk-themed elevator music. I don't speak a word of Swedish, so I can't access the complexity or cleverness of the lyrics. The vocals and background music are great. I'm not sure, but it seems like some of the tunes were lifted from British folk rock, track 15, in particular is the same tune, but not the lyrics, as Pentangle's "Maid that's deep in love." While this band is obviously indebted to the earlier groups, their music is very original certainly being influenced by Scandinavian musical traditions; folks, this is not a remix. And please God, don't call it "New Age."

Come on Amazon, make this an mp3 album already!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bright as a Morning Star, February 6, 2009

By 

Carleton R. Johnson "StockholmCJ" (Williamsburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Morning Star (Audio CD)

I had heard one cut from Ranarim on a Northside sampler but did not, at the time, order their album. Later they popped up on my recommendations page and I was caught by the review comparing them to Steeleye Span and Pentangle. (I would have added Renaissance.) So, I decided to give Morning Star a shot. Do you ever get a new album and it is so good that you want to play it all the time, yet you have to force yourself not to so the freshness won't fade? I am currently forcing myself.

I can echo that the close harmonies and melodies are what keep me coming back to it time and again, and that the underlying instrumentals are flawless and intriguing. There is a song on Steeleye Span's album All Around My Hat titled The Wife Of Ushers Well. The three part harmony of the chorus always makes me woozy. Morning Star has made me wobbly in several places, the vocals and harmonies are so captivating. The lyrics are sung in Swedish, yet I would not let a lack of Swedish keep you from experiencing Ranarim. When I first moved to Sweden and discovered artists like Carola, I was surprised at how much I liked the songs being sung in a language I did not yet know very well. I was able to focus on Carola's voice and style, enjoying her vocals as if a musical instrument. I believe you can have the same experience listening to Ranarim singing in Swedish. Though, if you just have to know what the lyrics mean, they are provided in English within the liner notes, along with the original Swedish titles.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yummy like sour lemon drops, May 27, 2008

By 

Earcentric Earnestine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Morning Star (Audio CD)

What the Amazon reviewer said. Sweet with a biting edge. Totally addictive.

Also, I'm proud of myself for listening closely enough to identify Brinna Inga Hjärtan as an alphabet song, as a Swedish acquaintance confirmed for me. Oops, only the English track names are listed here. Which track do I mean? I leave it as an exercise for the listener.