Customer Reviews

Whirled

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This music will entrance you with its satisfying texture, and its hypotic rhythms will infect your mind (or at least make you want to jump around a lot). At times Whirled seems have Celtic inflections, though phrases are often delightfully asymmetric. Vasen sets up addictive grooves that remain clever throughout. There is even a touch of a more Eastern sound. Yet, Vasen's music retains a distinctiveness that makes it incomparable to anything else. This is some of the funnest, and still, most legitimate music I have ever heard.

Stunningly beautiful melodies with quirky rhythyms played by the masters of the style. When I 1st heard this on the radio I thought maybe it was Breton or Celtic. I soon explored more Scandinavian music and it was everything I could hope for in a traditional music. The use of viola, middle eastern drumming and bouzouki backing up the native keyed fiddle or "nyckleharpa" is a superb blend that never seems old. The compositional talents of Roger Talroth, Mikel Marin and Olov Johannson combined is an unparalled marvel. I own almost every disc on this label, now. The sense of living with magic and unseen forces pervades this music and is part of the living culture that is Scandanavia.

This joyous celebration of ancient and modern takes the listener on a journey through another world. Andre Ferrari's varied and inventive percussion is a nice complement to nyckelharpist Olov Johansson, fiddler Mikael Marin and guitarist Roger Tallroth, and distinguishes Vasen from many of the other neo-traditional Nordic groups. Another feature that sets this band apart is their freewheeling approach to meter and melody, disregarding the conventions of both to create music with an unexpected freshness and fascinating wildness. The tone of the selections on this album alternates between lively and progressive to laid-back and quaint, but an overriding sense of folksy cheerfulness pervades them all. Track 4, "Shapons Vindaloo", has a Middle Eastern feel to it and resembles the work of violinist Claude Shalhoub on his self-titled album. If you like "Whirled", check out also Vasen's subsequent release, "Gront", which is somewhat darker but just as interesting.

Complex harmonies, intertwined and subtly evolving melodies, incredible rhythm and absolutely huge energy make this CD the most riveting I have heard in years.

No kidding, when I first heard the track "Whirled" on my local public radio station, I cranked the volume up until I might as well have been at a live concert. I had shivers running up and down my body and I wanted to do nothing so much as dance! This CD TOTALLY ROCKS!

What I find most stunning about this band's music is that they take the instruments most often heard producing Celtic music and use them to make the most fabulously complex, rich, energetic and mesmerizing music I've ever heard.

Being Swedish and having listened to traditional Swedish music growing up - this is nothing like it - they took traditional music to a totally new level! If you think traditional Swedish music is all about fiddles played by "dalmasar" on a summer meadow - you are wrong! Väsen captures the inner "väsen" of Sweden!

If you are tired of hearing the same "stuff" on the radio and television day in and day out, then I highly recommend this CD. It is fun music that is easy to listen to, and at the same time it will challenge you as a listener. I purchased this CD after hearing one track from it on MSN's "world essentials" web radio site, and it instantly became one of my favorites. Even though I rarely buy CDs, and want to buy others in different musical genres besides Nordic or whatever you want to label Vasen, I often find myself viewing their other releases and wondering if they are as good as "Whirled" is. How can I describe their music? Strings, percussion, rhythm, and power that will grip you.

Vasen seem to defy musical laws with this highly energetic offering of Swedish folk. It's hard to stand still to some of this! Of course the playing is superb, and the addition of expert percussion is highly effective. Well worth the money!

Vasen, fronted by a Swedish keyed fiddle player, is a fantastic ensemble on the Northside Digital label. Mixing Swedish traditional, Celtic and Indian Raga music, they transcend labels on their way to a musical nirvana. Sometimes trance-like, sometimes rocking out, Vasen on "Whirled" spin out some great grooves. A must.

Väsen is one of the absolutely best swedish folk bands at this moment. Saw them at Westmanska Palatset a few days ago and they're even better live than on record! Got to buy it, got to love it!

I`m stunned. This is the ultimate CD. It has perfect sound, and they play like gods. I have listened to a lot of folk-music in my days, but nothing comes even close to Väsen. And I`m known to be a critical listener............BUY!