[.ca] V3 Nordic Roots (Norway)

From Amazon.com:
This is the third album in NorthSide's compilation series that's perennially billed as "cheaper than food." At three dollars, it's hard to argue. This Minneapolis-based label is known for its eclectic mixture of Nordic roots music, with artists espousing both conventional and modern interpretations of their homeland sounds, be they from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, or Samiland. Fiddles, acoustic guitars, accordion, and percussion abound here, but unorthodox instruments such as synthesizers, electric guitar, and didjeridoo occasionally surface. From the shamanistic techno stylings of Wimme to the entrancing, poppy vocal harmonies of Värttinä to the lively strings of the Nyckelharpa Orchestra to the electronica-meets-early-music vibe of Garmarna's latest, it is hard to deny the passion and artistry of these groups. Some tracks are more outstanding than others, and the appreciation of each lies purely with an individual listener's taste. Some of the artists represented herein are far more diverse than their singular entries would suggest, but this disc offers a good starting point for new listeners. There album also includes four exclusive live tracks as a bonus. Hey, for three dollars, are you really gonna complain? --Bryan Reesman

Shimmering, Sparkling, Glittering Music:
Nordic Roots 3: another wish come true! The rainbow colors on the cover, a setting sun reflected in a stream is an apt representation of the mysterious and intriguing music within! Sparkling streams, lush, verdant landscapes viewed from a mountain top, and fields of wildflowers are as hypnotic and magnitizing as Nordic music itself!! Headliner musical artists: Hedningarna, Swap, Gamarana, Vasen, Varttina, Ranarim, Wimme, and Maria Kalaniemi, just to name a few, play their best and most shining examples of Nordic style music. The nyckelharpa, keyed violin, hardanger fiddle, violas, percussion, flutes, guitar, and even a didgeridoo add more mysterious sounds to the already haunting oom-laut accented Swedish and Norwegian female vocalists. Accordion music never sounded so magical and sweet as when played by Maria Kalaniemi. "The Greenist Branch" sung in Latin and accompanied by Swedish instruments played by Gamarna adds a whole new dimension to the meditative Latin words of one of the most famous German female mystics. Ranarim, one of my favorites, provides an extraordinairy rendition of "High Mountains, Low Valleys", which was recorded live. The music on the whole CD, has a Celtic lilt, with some Eastern European mystery, along with the American Appalachian fiddle sound, a cross-over mixture that is indeed indescribable but every bit as powerful and captivating! The "joik" chanting by Wimme (Finland) has a Native American sound and feel, which is tremendously moving combined with the modern techno sounds. It actually has some Buddhist-like meditative undertones that are intriguing beyond description. Nordic Music is indeed a natural wonder and is worth exploring by anyone who loves traditional and roots music. Erika B.

Nice introductory sample:
To a degree samplers are samplers - a mixture of appealing and unappealing material to sample, to explore and as the production company hopes, to purchase. I've been hooked on the Nordic Roots samplers since the first was issued in 1998. Why? Because this is music I otherwise never hear; it seems to be underplayed in the world music arena. Every Nordic Roots has introduced me to some group I wish to explore further. Here it is the first track, Gjallarthorn's "Suvetar, Goddess of Spring" perform by fiddle, didgeridoo, percussion, mandola and voice. The sound is initially similar to "ambient music" but as the piece progresses it demands your attention. Wimme's "Bamboo Honey" has a distinctive Finnish vocal style mixed with electronic music. While I have mixed reactions to the accompaniment, the vocals are excellent. I'll admit to being a Varttina fan since the Selenko album; blame my Finnish roots. Varttina is not for the folk music purist but the sound is entrancing and accessible even though I know nothing of the language and the words are not translated. The group Garmarna offers "Viridissima Virga" by Hildegard von Bingen. The contemporary arrangement is very good and well performed, but I'd still opt for the original. Swap is an intriguing group - Nordic and Celtic musicians merging their traditions. For those of you more interested in danceable pieces, listen to the tracks by Vasen, Aly Bain & Ale Moller, or Nyckelharpa Orchestra. With this breadth of musical styles, most listeners should find some music to their liking. For most of us, the music we like will also introduce us to a new artist and tradition.

More intriguing Scandinavian music from NorthSide:
Combining traditional tunes and instruments from Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Sami people with modern electronics and sensibilities, this is Nordic neo-folk music promoted with grace, zeal and consummate professionalism. Overall, "Nordic Roots 3" is the mellowest of the three "Nordic Roots" samplers, with more gentle, reflective numbers than the others releases, but still a few lively ones as well. Many of the artists featured on "Nordic Roots" 1 and 2 return, as well as some new faces, such as Gjallarhorn, Maria Kalaniemi and Aldargaz, Harv, Ranarim and the Nyckelharpa Orchestra. If you like the "Nordic Roots" series, check out the many releases of NorthSide's individual artists, as well as World Music Network's survey album, "Rough Guide to the Music of Scandinavia".

Great Compilation:
What can I say about this CD. Certainly, it is one of my favorite CD's. The various artists who perform on this CD are wonderful. My first exposure to the Nordic Music scene occured while watching World Link TV. As I watched it, Garmarna began playing Gamen. Soon after this I had my first Nordic CD (Garmana-- Vengence). As I began searching for other artists from this area of the world, I came across Nordic Roots 3. So I figured what the heck, it was cheap and offered a number of different artists so I could discover my particular tastes. I quickly fell in love with songs such as: Suvetar, Goddess of Spring (Gjallarhorn), Greenest Branch (Garmarna), High Mountains, Low Valleys (Ranarim), to name a few. For someone who thinks they may be interested in learning about the Nordic Music scene, this is a great sampler. Since buying this CD, I have purchased Nordic Roots 2 (which I love). I highly recommend this CD.

A scrumptuous smorgasbord:
I wasn't too sure what to expect when I bought this CD, but I figured that at this price, what the heck. Now I'm hooked. This is one of the only music samplers I've ever bought where there's not a single song on the disc I don't like. Some of them are a little stranger than others (Wimme's "Bamboo Honey" comes to mind -- Wimme's a Sami musician), but none of them are forbiddingly weird. I particularly enjoyed the beautiful ballad "High Mountains, Low Valleys" performed by Ranarim, a Swedish group well-known for its settings of old Swedish folk poetry. Gjallarhorn's "Suvetar, Goddess of Spring" is also spectacular and enticingly different, as well as the vocal music of the Finnish group Värttinä and just plain fun pieces for nyckelharpa or fiddle like "The Full Rigged Ship" and "The New Rigged Ship." None of the performers here are strictly traditional. Instead, all of them blend elements of the old with the new, producing what one critic has called a "melding of the transcendent with the subterranean." This is a great introduction to a neglected area of world folk music. And hey, at this price, you can't go wrong. 5 stars.

• Suvetar - Goddess of Spring - Gjallarhorn
• Ahma - Maria Kalaniemi
• Bambumiehta - Bamboo Honey - Wimme
• Polska After Mats Berglund/Såld Och Solde - Harv, Väsen
• Spaken - The Lever - Harv
• Full Rigged Ship/The New Rigged Ship - Aly Bain, Ale Möller
• Polska After Johan Erik Taklax - Sven Ahlbäck, Maria Kalaniemi
• Knarklåten - Bulldog - Hedningarna
• Laiksa - Värttinä
• Seagull - Swåp
• Hö Berg Och Djupa Dalar - High Mountains and Low Valleys - Ranarim
• Storpolskan - The Big Polska - Nyckelharpa Orchestra
• Riverside Aby - Timo Alakotila, Karen Tweed
• Viridissima Virga - Greenest Branch - Garmarna
• Malört - Hoven Droven