"In the large deserted woods on both sides of the Swedish-Norwegian border, Finnish people settled down in the 15th- and 16th century. These areas are now called "Finnskogen", the Finnish woods. The settlers came from difficult times in Finland, and burned down forest to cultivate rye in the ashes. In these vast forests it was hard to tell if you were in Sweden or Norway. Culture does not know borders either, and the music is a common Swedish- Norwegian tradition.
So reads the intro text on "Finnskogen brinner", the collaboration between Swedish fiddle artist Patrik Andersson and his Norwegian counterpart Vegar Vårdal. I am by no means attuned to the many regional differences in Scandinavian Folk tradition, so I can't begin to explain how the music of Finnskogen, but these gentlemen play beautifully together. Some of the more minimal Folk records I've been listening to as part of my "Listen to Norway" exploration (this is #5) can get grating, especially with the uncertain harmonies of the Hardanger Fiddle, but this one never falters. Two players and their instruments, maybe a little foot-tapping; that's all you need. "Dette var sagt at når Halteguten, Ola Porkkala, spilte denne valsen kunne ikke Folk la vaere å gråte."
My apologies for not keeping up with weekly posts in this series, but my dayjob workload has been astounding. Rest assured, there will be lots more music (Folk and otherwise) posted in weeks to come.
, the fine label run by the Folks behind bands such as Haust and Okkultokrati, now have a myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/ormeyngel
They also have a lot of awesome cassette releases in the works such as Obliteration - "Nekropsalms", Haust - "Powers of horror", Okkultokrati - "No Mass For Light" and a repress of Okkultokrati's demo.
Despite the participation of many Folks whose music I admire (Jonas Odhner from Sonores, Susanna Brandin of Winter Took His Life, etc.) and a beautifulpresentation, I just can't connect with Bolywool. It's definitely more of a "it's not you, it's me" sorta thing though as I've never been a fan of the Madchester/baggy sound they emulate and never will, no matter how hard I try. I prefer my shoegaze to be more assertive than fey, y'know? Still, personal preference aside, I fully acknowledge that Bolywool's take on that sound is plenty competent so it's not like I can write them off or say "this sucks" or anything because it so obviously doesn't. Bolywool are a good band making music I don't care about. Maybe you will. That's perfectly okay by me.
Playing like deep cuts off the "Juno" soundtrack, Flower Clans' newest offering "Voodoo Café" certainly has its moments. However, the Swedish band often mistakes youthful giddiness for audio sugar rush -- landing their work directly in 3-year-old birthday party territory.
It's not that "Voodoo Café" isn't a charming offering -- not admiring its homespun charm would be somewhat akin to kicking a puppy -- however, their everything-and-the-kitchen-sink approach quickly wears. Somewhere under it all lays strong, guitar driven Folk. When it works on cuts like "Mountain low lay" and "Call me with a smile" it works. However, more often than not, it's frosted over with bizarre Kimya Dawson vocal ticks and errant woodwinds, making songs such as "Tina the reader" a breathtaking study in "almost". Then there are the more flagrant offenders. The best one can say about "Laj la la la laj la la la laj" is at least the band believes in proof in advertising. If only they had taken the perfect flute-driven fluff of closing track "Sunshine" and spread the wealth. Now that would have been something to make us giddy. - Laura Studarus
Many Folks have abandoned myspace, but Fenriz of Darkthrone still uses it to highlight his favorite underground acts with his "Band of the Week" feature and now, after doing it continually for a long while, it's led to some bigger/better things besides just hipping many Folks to lots of great music (myself included). First up, there will be a "Live Evil Fest" happening in Camden, UK in late October featuring a number of previous "Band of the Week" recipients including Obliteration and Sonic Ritual, two IAT favorites. Go here for more on that: http://www.myspace.com/liveevilfestival
Secondly, both Nocturno Culto and Fenriz will be co-editing the March issue of Terrorizer where they will be running features and interviews on many other bands they dig. Should be great for anyone into true underground metal + punk, so yeah, keep an eye out!
Toby Vail wrote a great essay on what it means to be an aging punk in the new issue of "Nuts!", our local zine, a subject never too far from my mind as the age of my show-going peers gets progressively further away from my own. "I am happy to be alive here in Olympia which is still a thriving punk scene largely unconcerned with trends, careerism and marketability. I just hope the next generation of punks take it seriously. Because what we do can make a difference. We have the power to change things and our actions are connected to history and impact the future. Hopefully you won't all move to Portland or Brooklyn or whatever when your own punk rock mid like crisis at 20 or 25 or 30 or 35... because this is a cool town and it'd be rad if some of you stick around." Those words resonate with me; I was jaded in my early 20s, but I turned it around and turned my back on the city, on the pose, on false aspirations and all the other things that don't matter. It's a bit part of why I live where I do today. And that's why when I come across bands that share those same ideals, it gets my attention. This is the dark side of the same coin: "Drugged SS takes no part of the already established positive hardcore scene in the big cities... Drugged SS are from Setesdal and are going to stay in Setesdal." I can relate to that. I can also relate to the raw, ugly sounds they're making because while in many ways I am getting mellower as I get older, I am not getting complacent. Dark times, dark music.
Drugged SS are a new signing to , the label run by the Folks behind Okkultokrati and Haust. They are also the first band they've signed from outside their extended band family. A 6-song demo tape is in the works and will be out soon.
Danish Folk-metal act Svartsot have confirmed that they will release their new album "Mulmets viser" on March 29 via . Hear a medley of tunes at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/svartsot
Listening to Norway, part 2. I'm still concentrating mostly on traditional Folk records because that's more where my mood's at, but I am pulling a few other selections from the stacks, especially the ones that fall under the category "heard of, but never heard." Trinacria is a band I've always wanted to check out and I even remember hearing about them when they first got going, but somewhere along the line I dropped the ball and never investigated further. Not sure why though 'cuz their album "Travel now journey infinitely" is killer. For the uninitiated, here is a summation of the band as lifted straight from their bio: "Trinacria was originally a composition by Ivar Bjørnson (Enslaved), Maja S. K. Ratkje and Hils Sofie Tafjord (both from Fe-mail), commissioned by Rikskonsertene for a concert series. The line-up was completed by Grutle Kjellson, Ice Dale (both from Enslaved), Iver Sandøy (Emmerhoff) and Espen Lien. In short: after working together briefly, the composition turned into a vital project which, after touring, became a fully welded band." So yeah, in short: Enslaved + Fe-mail = awesome. Hardly a surprise, though sometimes the marriage of metal and noise is not so hot. Neurosis and Man is the Bastard were the first bands I ever saw who did it and did it well, many others followed. Cult of Luna is one, Pig Destroyer is another, and of course Bastard Noise continues to bring the brutality as only they can provide (check out the new Endless Blockade split if you haven't already!). Naturally, Trinacria lean more towards the epic, blackened end of the metal spectrum as would befit their pedigree, but song-wise, the structure is more postrock-like as they build the pieces into huge crescendos over repetitive riffs and escalating chaos. Any of the six tracks contain therein would probably make for a suitable intro to the band, but I think the title-track closer is best as it's the most epic of all this epicness. Definitely an overlooked gem.
Flower Clans - Voodoo Café 
j.appelqvist | Fri, Mar 12th, 2010 12:51:00