Customer Reviews

Prisme

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Annbjørg Lien's second recording provides her best opportunity yet to display her own creativity in playing and composition. With the arrangements by Bjørn Ole Rasch she plays 13 songs including the spirited Korstog, the contemplative Cantabile, the title cut, Prisme, and Vidvandre. Her composition skills may not, however, match her mastery of the instrument. To hear more heartful playing by her you may want to check out recordings by the group, Bukkene Bruse, particularly their first recording. Still, the Lien fan will not want to miss these 51 minutes of talent from one of Norway's most famous exporters of hardanger fiddle music.

Annbjorg Lien is obviously a very significant talent. She is sure to bring the sounds of the hardanger fiddle (it sounds something like a raspy viola--not bad raspy, edgy raspy) to a much wider audience. Earlier recordings had Lien playing a more restrained, "traditional" kind of style, with less additional instrumental backing. "Prisme," by contrast, is practically pop music, though it never loses the level of sincerity one expects from a thinking musician. Imagine an album full of driving, folk-primordial instrumental dances and the like cousin to the Grieg of 'In the Hall of the Mountain King,' and you're most of the way there. Mixed in, to provide the appropriate contrasts, are two or three much slower, contemplative melodic cuts as well. Excellent stuff! Buy it!