[.ca] V2 Nordic Roots (Norway)

you wont lose much here...:
i'm an extreme metal fan but i bought this anyway because it was so damned cheap! how can you go wrong with more than 20 tracks for less than \omoney\c?? anyway it even turned out to be quite an entertaining compilation with some great performances. i always was curious about exotic and especially nordic music so i had some nice surprises here. recommended!

The Best Of the NorthSide Samplers:
Again, NorthSide brings us some wonderful samples from the fertile Scandinavian folk scene on this Nordic Roots 2 CD. After taking a chance on the first one (after all, it was so cheap!) and being wowed, I had to get this one. Many of the same artistes from the previous collection can be found here, along with other interesting groups. From the infectious openers Vildhonung (Wild Honey) from Boot and Mettsän Tytto (Forest Maiden) from Hedningarna, through ultra modern twists from Garmarna (Vedergällningen, or Vengeance), Sorten Muld (2 Soestre, or 2 Sisters), to the jazz stylings of Lavalek by Groupa and the driving hard rock of Brekken by Hoven Droven, one would have to be dead not to find something to like here. Just one warning: this stuff is addictive.

Intriguing and Beguiling Music:
Music from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland has magical qualities that are beyond word descriptions, as beautiful as the fjords and the night-time clear skies with falling stars, an Impressionistic painting as hard to describe as the Northern Lights. The female vocalists are enchanting like the Celts and Hungarians (& just as hard to describe, ancient languages with equally mysterious origins). There is violin music played on the hardanger fiddle which has sympathetic vibrating strings, that provide a drone, amazingly hypnotic and trance-like. The music is slightly familiar if you are acquainted with Appalachian fiddle music or bluegrass, add to it some Austrian waltzes, and an occasional Polish mazurka: then once-in-awhile give it a soft velvet feeling. The fact that much of it is over 100 years old, makes it true roots music, occasionally it is up-dated with an electrified sound amplifying the intensity and magical qualities ... sometimes flutes, other times a viola, the nyckelharpa, and other ancient Scandinavian instruments provide the intrigue and enchantment. Having heard "Nordic Roots" Volume 1 (& bought it), I looked forward to Volume 2. The best and most talented musical artists provide extraordinairy examples of this genre for an unbelievable price. Undoubtedly, the captivating musical sounds by these artists will hypnotize you into wanting a full CD by one or more of these musicians. Northside is truly providing us "food for the soul" and with gratitude! Erika B.

Full of fun and energy!:
Ranging in mood from joyful and jaunty to dark and driving, this is my favorite of the three "Nordic Roots" samplers that the NorthSide label has released to date. Intense stuff is to be found here; there is nothing half-way about this music! To those not familiar with the genre, I'm not sure how to describe it. There are elements similar to Celtic and folk, as well as liberal doses of rock and techno influence. But what shines through most noticeably are the traditional Scandinavian roots of the selections - strident and visceral, perhaps reflecting the harshness of the climate, the Nordic peoples' fierce pride in their native cultures, and the darkness of their mythology. At first listen, the music might seem eclectic to a neophyte, abundant with the sounds of hardanger fiddle, nyckelharpa and unfamiliar languages, but it all becomes quite addictive. In addition to many of the same artists featured on the previous "Nordic Roots" release, new groups include Annbjorg Lien, Sorten Muld, Varttina, Bask, Boot, and Bukkene Bruse. I find this particular CD to contain great motivational music to work by, especially in the first half. Give it a listen and see for yourself--after all, at its \o$$$\c, it's "still cheaper than food", as the sticker on the casing brags! (Well, some foods, anyway.)

Another Great Compilation:
If you read my review of Nordic Roots 3, you will know that I am very pleased with these CD's. This is another cheap compilation of many different artists and musical styles. Nordic Roots has wonderful songs such as: Wild Honey (Boot), Antin Mikko (JPP), Summer Night Twist (Troka) and many others. For a person looking for an inexpensive introduction to Nordic Music, you will find Nordic Roots 2 very diverse and satisfying. With absolutely no hesitation, I would recommend this CD to others.

• Wild Honey
• Metsan Tytto (Forest Maiden) - Hedningarna
• Schankheden/Terry Crehan's - Swåp
• Antin Mikko - JPP
• My Wedding Day - Rosenberg 7
• Summer Night Twist - Troka
• Heaven and Earth - Ale Möller
• Ploska - Väsen
• Vengeance - Garmarna
• 2 Sisters - Sorten Muld
• Loki - Annbjoerg Lien
• Polska Release - Sanna Kurki-Suonio
• Enchantment - Wimme
• Secret Tears - Loituma
• Village Awaits the New Moon - Värttinä
• Polonaise from Sexdrega - Bäsk
• Stars/The Glutton - Frifot
• Thrasher's Waltz
• 'Tis Time to Celebrate
• Wedding March from OESterdalen - Bukkene Bruse
• Lavalek - Groupa
• Brekken - Hoven Droven